February 4, 84, Goldsboro
US Air Force Retired Lieutenant Colonel James Wilton Clark
Lt. Col. James “Jim” Wilton Clark, 84, of Goldsboro passed away at home on Tuesday morning, February 4 surrounded by family. James was born October 26, 1935 in Fort Bragg, North Carolina to the late James Lafayette Clark and Addie Walker Clark.
He is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Eleanor Goller Clark of Goldsboro.
Jim is survived by his children Joseph Wilton Clark of Durham, Teresa Clark Eberwein and husband Derek of Clayton, Stephanie Clark Strickland and husband Brian of Goldsboro and Steven James Clark of Cary. He also is survived by seven grandchildren: Lindsey Clark (and Pete Georgas), Joseph Clark (and Anna Clark), and Jennifer Addie Clark; Sam Eberwein and Brad Eberwein; Emmett Strickland and Ian Strickland; and three great grandchildren: Madison Brown, Jacob Georgas and Cameron Clark.
He is also survived by his siblings: Vaughn “Buddy” Clark, Glenda Clark Gaines, Ann Clark Burns, Mark Clark, Joanie Clark Clarke and Patricia Clark Wyrick.
Military service was ingrained early in Jim’s life. His father’s service in the Army took the family to Sendai, Japan following World War II during the historical occupation and rehabilitation. The family returned home to North Carolina where Jim graduated high school from Benhaven School in Harnett County. He earned a bachelor’s degree in History and was in ROTC at East Carolina College in 1958. He received his master’s degree in Management from the University of Nebraska in 1975.
Jim served in the US Air Force for 24 years. Over his military career, he was stationed at Blytheville Air Force Base in Arkansas, Clark Airfield in the Philippines, Orlando Naval Training Center in Florida, Wake Island Airfield during the Vietnam War, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, March Air Force Base in California and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina. Jim was the Assistant Deputy Commander for Resource Management, 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, from 1978 to 1983. After his retirement in 1983 from the Air Force, Jim was a senior contract administrator for 14 years at Walter Kidde Aerospace in Wilson, NC.
Jim will be remembered for his kind heart, wry sense of humor, interest in Japanese culture, and love of travel, fast cars and Carolina basketball. During his retirement, he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and building RC airplanes.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 7, 2020 at Bridges-Cameron Funeral Home, 600 W. Main Street, Sanford. A private graveside service for the family will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. in the Cameron Grove Cemetery, Sanford.
The family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to Crystal Smith for her caregiving and to the staff at Community Home Care & Hospice for their compassionate services.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or American Heart Association in Jim’s name.
Seymour Funeral Home is assisting the Clark Family and online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.