Theodore Burton Clark
MERIDEN - Theodore Burton Clark, 90, died Friday, Oct. 28, 2005 at MidState Medical Center. He was the husband for 57 years of Frances Merritt Clark. Born in Meriden on August 8, 1915, he was the son of the late Alice Wheeler Clark and Adelbert Burton Clark. Ted graduated from Plainville High School and Morse Business College. He worked at Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford for 40 years. Ted served as a Technical Sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II, serving from February 1942 to December 1945 and was at the Battle of the Bulge. Ted loved music and was active in the Travelers Chorus for 63 years. He also sang in the Southington Chorus, Wallingford Chorus and the First United Methodist Chancel Choir. He played the trumpet in the Brass Ensemble and handbells in the Bell Choir of the First United Methodist Church of Meriden. Besides his wife, he is survived by a sister, Grace G. Clark of East Norwalk; two daughters and sons-in-law, Janice and Frank Gawlik of Meriden and Carol and Tom Post of Branchville, New Jersey; and a grandson, Tom Post and his wife, Stacey Monaco Post of Rocheser, NY. A memorial service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Beecher & Bennett Flatow Funeral Home, 48 Cook Ave., Meriden. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent to the Ted Clark Memorial Music Fund of the First United Methodist Church, 15 Pleasant St., Meriden, CT 06450.
Dear Fran and family, Although saddened by his passing we celebrate Ted’s life personally and in fact. His musicality was an inspiration to me both in choral and instrumental music and he was the main reason we joined FUMC. All week the song .Steal away to Jesus. has been in my mind thinking of him. Last night in the Wallingford Chorus we quietly sang in his memory: .Going Home.,.Sing me to Heaven. and the ending chorus of Faure’s Requiem which he practiced with the Chorus last year.
Dear Fran and family, We were sorry to hear about Ted’s passing, but joyful to know he is singing at the feet of Jesus. Please extend our love to your family, With love, thoughts and prayers, Keeping The Rocks Silent, (Lk 19:37-40) Bill and Barbara Bruneau
Ted was a man of character, and he was a character! He loved his family, his church, his choir and his music. He was a man of faith, and touched many. He will be truely missed. Prayers for Fran, Jan and Carol….you are lifted in love and prayer. Know that, because of God’s promise of eternal life, you will again be reunited with Ted in the kingdom of Heaven. How sweet the thought!
We will all miss Ted so much. We loved his beautiful singing voice and looked forward to hearing it in our choir. He was a special person and a joy to know. Our prayers are with the family.