HAMPDEN – Carolyn Fernald Clark passed away April 19, 2007, loved ones by her side. She was born June 15, 1923, in a farmhouse in Ellsworth, the daughter of Percy Fernald, a railroad man, and Evelyn (DeWitt) Fernald, a schoolteacher. She graduated with honors from Bangor High School, Class of 1940. That same year, she met her soul mate and future husband, Charles C. “Dick” Clark, of North Anson. He entered the Army in the spring of 1941, and she wrote him every day until his return home from combat in the Pacific. They were married Jan. 5, 1946, in Bangor, and he was recalled into military service in the Korean War. She became a dutiful officer’s wife and loving mother, accompanying her husband and children all over the United States, and on two tours in Germany. The small town girl traveled all over Europe, from London to the Austrian Alps, always ready, willing and able to adapt to new homes and new languages. Wherever the family lived, she was active in the community, volunteering at the hospital, organizing church events and donating blood. As the wife of a senior officer, she hosted social events, knew most of her husband’s men by their first names, and provided comfort for those men and their wives far from home and family. The height of the Cold War kept her husband away more than once on prolonged overseas duty, leaving her with the full responsibilities of raising her two children. Her husband retired from the Army in 1968 and entered the civilian workplace. Carolyn continued her life’s work as wife and mother, and upon her children’s graduation from college, she and her husband returned to Maine. They spent several years living in the quiet setting of Fields Pond, Orrington, next door to the Curran Farm. In 1990 they moved to Hampden and she became an active member of Hampden Congregational Church. She also spent a great deal of time volunteering at Ross Home and Eastern Maine Medical Center. A voracious reader, she was a regular at the Bangor Public Library. She remained involved in the many gatherings of her large extended family, always bringing a warm and vivacious presence and plenty of home cooked food. She was predeceased by her husband of 49 1/2 years. She is survived by her brothers, Lawrence Fernald of Bangor and Kenneth Fernald of Grand Bend, Ontario; her daughter, Carol Clark of Hartford, Conn.; and her son and daughter-in-law, Charles C. “Chuck” Clark III and Sheri Dee Clark of Hampden. Also remembering her are many close friends, nieces and nephews. She had a long life, sometimes hard, often very happy. Her motto was, “Hello world, I’m ready for you! Are you ready for me?” Visiting hours for family and friends will be held 3-6 p.m. Sunday at Hampden-Gilpatrick Funeral Home, 45 Western Ave., Hampden. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Monday at Hampden Congregational Church, Main Road North, Hampden, with the Rev. Dr. Debra J. Hanson, pastor of Hampden Highlands United Methodist Church, officiating. A continued time of remembrance and refreshments will be after the service in the fellowship hall of the church. Interment later in the spring will be at Lakeview Cemetery, Hampden. Messages of condolence or memories may be shared through www.hamdpengilpatrick.com
CAROLYN FERNALD CLARK
