The Clarke Family
By Linda Cunningham Fluharty
On November 8, 1941, at Moundsville, West Virginia, Lemar Ashworth Clarke, born April 26, 1920, the son of Raymond and Bess (Strosnider) Clarke, married Ruth Mary Cunningham, born April 7, 1920, the daughter of John W. and Mary (Pearl) Cunningham. This information is from their marriage record. However, they evidently lied about their ages because they were both born in 1922.
Lemar A. "Johnny" Clarke, U. S. M. C., World War II
During World War II, Lemar "Johnny" served in the U. S. Marine Corps.
In the early years of their marriage, Lemar "Johnny" and Ruth lived at Roseby's Rock in Marshall County, on Brown's Run next to Ruth's parents, and possibly other places. Finally, they were given a piece of property on Boggs Run by Ruth's brother, Jack Cunningham, and Johnny and Ruth built a house on it. By then, they had three children, Mary Beth, Paula and John.
The Clarke Family.
In addition to his employment at the Benwood Plant of Wheeling Steel, Johnny built houses and did remodeling. In the late 1950s, Ruth worked with neighbor, Mildred (Andreas) Fisher, as a cook at Boggs Run School.
After their children were grown, Johnny and Ruth enjoyed their retirement and traveled to Ireland and the Isle of Man several times. However, Ruth developed lung cancer and died in 1986.
John and his second wife, the former Cassandra Dean, were married for 23 years at the time of his death on August 5, 2009, at the age of 87. They continued to live in the Boggs Run home, where they raised Cassandra's daughter, Charley Cooley.
Cassandra, John & Charley (age 3), Williamsburg, Virginia
In 2003, they sold the house on Boggs Run and moved to Elm Terrace, in Wheeling, Ohio County.
Lemar Ashworth "Johnny" Clarke, July 3, 1987
Johnny & Cassandra (Dean) Clarke
Johnny stated many times that the love and devotion of Cass and Charley gave him the will to live as long as he did.
OBITUARY
Wheeling Intelligencer & News-Register, August 6, 2009
CLARKE, Lemar A. (John,) 87, of Elm Grove, Wheeling, W.Va., died peacefully at home, on August 5, 2009, surrounded by his family and friends.
He was born April 26, 1922, in Moundsville, W.Va., son of the late Raymond and Bess Strosnider Clarke.
John was a graduate of Union High School in 1940 and joined the U.S. Marine Corps two years after graduation.
Having served in the South Pacific during World War II, John returned home to be with his wife, Ruth and two children. A son was born after John was out of the Marine Corps.
He was a retired employee of Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel, Benwood Plant with 42 years of service. He has built numerous houses and done extensive remodeling work.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth Cunningham Clarke, and an infant brother.
He is survived by his second wife of 23 years, Cassandra (Cass) Clarke; three daughters, Charley Marie Cooley of Wheeling; Mary Beth Lauricella of Watertown, SD, and Paula Carnes of San Antonio, Texas; and a son, John R. Clarke of Wheeling.
There will be no visitation.
John's body was donated to the Human Gift Registry at West Virginia University in Morgantown, W.Va., for medical learning experiences.
Family and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Celebration of John's life, on Monday, August 10, 2009, at 11 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 2244 Marshall Avenue, Wheeling, WV, with Rev. James McGoldrick S.M. as celebrant.
Memorial contributions may be made to Tender Loving Care, Home Care and Hospice, 1231 Warwood Avenue, Wheeling, WV 26003.
Arrangements by the Kepner Funeral Home, 166 Kruger Street, Elm Grove, Wheeling.
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