Eric Conrad Clark lll passed peacefully June 13, 2022 at his home at the “Pines of Davidson, NC.”
He was a longtime resident of Charlotte and, also for many years, of Wrightsville Beach. He was born the son of Verna Elizabeth MacQueen Clark and Eric Conrad Clark, Jr in Elizabethtown, NC and was the beloved big brother to his sister, Anne Clark Williams. He graduated from Elizabethtown High School in 1948. In the summers during high school, he loved spending time on the water where he worked for the NC Wildlife Commission as a lake warden at both Lake Waccamaw and White Lake. He then attended Davidson College and graduated in 1952. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. While at Davidson he met his beloved Bettie Orr Hunter, who was attending Queens College. They were married on August 28, 1954 at Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church in Charlotte.
After graduating from Davidson, he enlisted in the US Navy and was commissioned a lieutenant at Newport, Rhode Island in December of 1952. He served as a Navigation Officer on the USS Chauncey (DD667); receiving the United Nations National Defense and Korean Service Ribbons with 2 Battle Stars for his service. After completion of a world tour on the Chauncey during the Korean War, he continued in active duty in the Office of Naval Intelligence in Washington DC until 1955. He then served in the inactive Naval Reserve, finishing his service as a Lieutenant in 1967.
He enjoyed a long and successful business career in Charlotte, having been with Pneumafil Corporation, Mutual Savings and Loan Association and later, self-employed in Land and Property Development. A longtime member of Myers Park Presbyterian Church, he served terms there as a Deacon and Elder. He was a Trustee of the Charlotte Metropolitan YMCA, the Harris YMCA and Camp Thunderbird. He was a member of the Charlotte City Club, The Charlotte and Wilmington track clubs, the North State Game Club, and the Charlotte Good Fellows Club. In 1972 and 1973, he was Chairman for the Charlotte Invitational Basketball tournaments hosted by Davidson College and the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce.
Though he was quite busy with his many business interests, his motto was always to “take a brief vacation just for yourself every day.” His mini vacations for himself included beautifully restoring, alongside his wife Bettie, the historical William Lee House at Sharon View; built in 1828 and designated as a historical landmark by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Commission. He also enjoyed planting bountiful vegetable gardens, running marathons and triathlons, playing golf, windsurfing, fishing and sailing. But…his very favorite time was spent with his family on the farm at Sharon View by a warm fire cooking quail, sipping something sweet and simply telling really good stories. He loved his family and they loved and respected him deeply. He was, in countless ways, an incredible father, husband, brother, cousin, uncle, and grandfather.
He was predeceased by his adored wife of 62 years, Bettie Orr Hunter Clark and his beautiful “sister Anne.” He is survived by his three children: daughter, Elizabeth Anne Clark of Wilmington, NC; son, Eric Conrad Clark IV and his wife Ann Louise Roberts Clark of Charlotte and Lake Waccamaw; son, Reese Hunter Clark and his wife Caroline Bedsole Clark of Greenville, SC and their sons Reese Hunter Clark Jr and his wife Amber Barnlund Clark of Greenville, SC and Sheldon Dunham Clark and his wife Caitlin Wall Clark of Nashville, TN.
A Memorial Service will be held on his birthday, July 16th, at the Myers Park Presbyterian Church chapel at 2:00 in the afternoon.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name may be made to “The Fund for Davidson” of Davidson College or the Charlotte Metro YMCA both of which were very meaningful chapters in his book of Life.
Condolences may be offered at www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com.