CENTRALIA — Dr. Eugene S. Clarke, 87, of Centralia, passed away Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at his home.
He was born November 28, 1934, in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Gordon Clarke and Lucile (Flucky) Clarke. He married Nancy Moore on November 3, 1962, in East Alton, Illinois and she survives.
In addition to his wife of 59 years, Nancy Clarke of Centralia, he is also survived by his children: Joe Clarke and wife Néha of Chicago, Linda Babbs and husband Brian of Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, and Christine Terryberry and husband Karl of Lewiston, New York; his nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; two brothers and sister: Tony Clarke and wife Peggy of Roswell, Georgia, Suzanne Given of Caneyville, Kentucky and Bruce Clarke of Helena, Montana; and several nieces and nephews.
Dr. Clarke was preceded in death by his parents: Gordon and Lucile Clarke.
Dr. Clarke enlisted in the Marines Corps in 1955 and his service included a stint in the Far East. He played football for the Marines and received a football scholarship at the International University in San Diego, California. Dr. Clarke graduated from Washington University Dental School with his Doctorate in Dentistry in 1965 and then started his career in Irvington and later retired from his Centralia Office, E.S. Clarke Dentistry, after 53 years. Dr. Clarke was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Centralia. He had a passion for doing Medical Missions all over the world and he volunteered for 35 years. Dr. Clarke belonged to the Centralia Elks Lodge 495, Centralia Shriners Lodge 201, Central City Lions Club, Centralia Rotary, and the Centralia American Legion Post 446.
A Celebration of Life Service for Dr. Eugene S. Clarke will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at the First Presbyterian Church in Centralia with Rev. Joannie Naraghi officiating. Military Honors will be accorded at the church by the Centralia American Legion Post 446 and Centralia V.F.W. Post 2055. Visitation will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at the First Presbyterian Church in Centralia.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Centralia, Centralia Shriners Lodge 201, or Shriners Children’s Hospital of St. Louis, MO and will be accepted at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home at 235 North Sycamore Street Centralia, Illinois 62801, 618-532-3523, who is honored to be of service to the Clarke family.
Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting sutherlandfuneralhome.com and the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home Facebook page.