Wilburn C. “Will” Clark died on April 25, 2020 at his home in Hermiston surrounded by his family at the age of 74.
He was born on Nov. 23, 1945 in Fort Worth, Texas to Wilburn Blue Clark and Juanita Cova Sutton Clark.
Will served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War as a communications specialist. After he was honorably discharged, Will moved to Oregon, where he met his beautiful wife, Treva Janet Sauers Clark in Joseph. Will and Treva were married on Sept. 2, 1967 in Hermiston.
Will worked at Marlette (where he met his best friend Duane Berry) and while there, his son Chuck was born on Dec. 10, 1968. His new family soon moved to Lebanon, where Will worked for Gold West, and his daughter Sharmalee was born on Dec. 11, 1970. Will moved his growing family to Pendleton, where he attended Blue Mountain Community College and received an associate degree in electronics. After graduating, Will worked for Wilcox Furniture and JC Penny’s before becoming self-employed at Hermiston Electronics with his longtime friend and business partner, John Knudson.
In 1988, Will went to work at JM Manufacturing in McNary, which began a 25-year career in the plastic pipe industry. Will worked for both JM Manufacturing and North American Pipe to serve as electro-mechanic, superintendent, engineer, director of engineering, and plant manager at multiple locations around the country – McNary; Wharton, Texas; Springfield, Ky.; Houston, Texas; and Bonneville, Miss. In 2004, Will returned to Hermiston and took a position as plant manager of JM Manufacturing in McNary and worked there until his retirement in 2013.
Will loved his job, helping people, and spending time with his family. In his spare time, Will enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, and his many woodworking
and landscaping projects. His grandsons and their friends called him Big P, and he always enjoyed time with his grandkids more than anything.
Will is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Treva Janet Clark; their two children, Chuck Clark of Arcadia, Calif. and Sharmie Fraser of Hermiston; 11 grandchildren, Justin Clark of London, England, Will Clark III of Spring, Texas, Brittany Clark of Spring, Texas, Amy Clark of Oklahoma, Crystal Zielke of Stanfield, Zachary Fraser of Bend, Tanner Fraser of Madras, Gunnar Fraser of Madras, Abigail Clark, Annabella Clark and Alexandria Clark of Laguna Hills, Calif.; his best friend and dog, Zoey; sister, Lola Ann Falkner of Floresville, Texas; as well as brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, cousins, and many lifelong friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilburn and Juanita; brothers, Johnny Jim Sessom and Robert Wayne Sessom; sister, Rosetta Marie Pridgeon; and sons, Wilburn Clyde Clark II and Troy James Clark.
A celebration of life gathering will be scheduled for next year in Hermiston on the anniversary of Will’s passing.
Please share memories of Will with his family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
