More detail on this person: Colonel (then
Major) Niles CLARK passed away on Sunday. He
had been ill (several mini strokes and vascular
dementia) for a few months. He was appointed
Commander of the 615th TC Detachment at Fort
Bragg as the 57th AHC was being organized. He
deployed to Kontum with the unit in October 1967
and remained in the unit until April 1968 at which
time he was transferred to the 52nd CAB and
became the battalion maintenance officer. He
completed this tour in Vietnam, his second, in mid
September 1968. He was a fine officer and
commander who led his unit exceptionally well,
especially during the hard times suffered by the
Gladiator family. RIP, Niles. (Darrell Anthony
sent an email to our Gladiator Assn Members last
night with info regarding the service and funeral
in Greenwood, SC on Saturday. Hope some of our
family can make it)
From: Darrell Anthony
Colonel Niles Craig Clark, Jr., Ret. Beloved
husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather,
brother, and friend passed away surrounded by
family at his home on February 12, 2017, at the
age of 83.
He was the son of Niles. C. Clark Sr. and Agnes
Anderson Clark of Waterloo, SC and is survived by
his loving wife of 60 years, Ruth Amis Clark of
Greenwood, SC; three sons: Niles C. Clark III
(Anna) of Greenwood, SC; Thomas A. Clark (Doren)
of McDonough, GA; and Steve M. Clark (Eileen) of
Mount Pleasant, SC; Eight granddaughters: Brandi
Clark Cooke (Benjy) of Mount Pleasant, SC;
Elizabeth "Ruthie" Clark Godfrey (Wade) of
Roebuck, SC; Laurie Clark Dunn (Colin) of
Washington, DC; Rebekah Clark Moody (Paul) of
Atlanta, GA; Ashley C. Clark of McDonough, GA;
Elizabeth Clark Kozma (Tom) of Mount Pleasant,
SC; Mary Shadler Clark of Charlotte, NC; and
Caroline C. Clark of Mount Pleasant, SC and six
great-grandchildren; One brother; George Bailey
Clark of Lynchburg, VA, two sisters: Evelyn Clark
Lorenz (Dick) Oliver Springs, TN and Martha Anne
Elliott (Floyd) of Plano, TX.
Niles was a 1955 honor graduate of Clemson
University where he was active in the band and
Army ROTC, he earned his MBA from the University
of Tennessee. He served 32 years with distinction
and honor in the US Army earning the rank of
Colonel. Niles was an Army aviator and
maintenance test pilot in both fixed wing and
helicopters achieving his master army aviator
designation. He served three one year tours of
duty in Vietnam. The family moved 27 times during
his career and were stationed throughout the US
and twice in Germany. As a well-decorated soldier,
his most prestigious awards and decorations were:
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, Bronze
Star with "V" and 3 oak leaf clusters, Purple
Heart, Meritorious Service medal, Air Service
medal with 24 oak leaf clusters, among others.
After retiring from military service, Niles moved
to Waterloo, SC, where he raised beef cattle, grew
timber and was appointed the chairman of Laurens
Co. Transportation committee. He took great joy in
improving the land on the family farm, driving his
tractor and taking his grandchildren on hay rides.
He was a member of the Laurens Co. Forestry
Association, Laurens Co. Cattlemen's Assn. and
the Star Fort chapter of the Military Officer
Assn., where he served as President and was on
the board of directors. Niles volunteered on
church mission trips to the Dominican Republic and
Honduras where they constructed churches and
schools. He was a member of St. Mark United
Methodist Church and the Charles Poore Sunday
School Class.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 PM
Saturday at St. Mark United Methodist Church with
Rev. Carl Hunsucker and Rev. Barrett Alewine
officiating.
Burial with Full Military Honors will be in
Waterloo Cemetery, Waterloo, SC Saturday,
February 18, 2017
Pallbearers will be grandsons-in-law along with A.
Glenn Neil LTC, RET and Ray Davis.
Honorary escort will be members of the Charles
Poore Sunday School Class.
The family will receive friends in the church
Fellowship Hall from 1:00 to 2:00 Saturday
afternoon.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St.
Mark United Methodist Church, 550 Highway 72
Bypass NW, Greenwood, SC 29649.
Service at the St Mark United Methodist Church,
550 ByPass 72 NW, Greenwood, SC US 29649,
Saturday, February 18, 2017 2:00 PM
Burial information: Waterloo Cemetery, Waterloo, SC
This information was last updated 02/15/2017
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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