Captain Patrick Ryan Clark, 44, of Huntsville, Alabama passed away Sunday, February 5th, 2023. Born on November 6, 1978, “Pat” as he was known to his friends and family, was a lifelong Huntsville resident, attending Grissom High School and then the University of Alabama-Huntsville where he received a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. He then went on to attend the University of Alabama where he earned a master’s degree in Civil Engineering.
After the terrorist attacks on 9/11, he joined the Army. He was a Platoon Leader from November of 2005 through September of 2007 with a year-long tour in Iraq. He served in the National Guard from 2008 to 2012. Throughout his military career, he received a multitude of honors including the Bronze Star Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Mobilization Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Parachute Badge. After being honorably discharged, he served as a Program Manager for the Army Corps of Engineers.
In his civilian life, Pat was a devoted husband, father, friend, and lifelong athlete. Anyone who knew him as a dad would say he was hands-on and loved nothing more than camping, playing ball, and swimming with his kids–always taking time to coach their teams, shuttle kids to and from practices, and show no mercy with his 80 mph line drives to keep them sharp. His own childhood record as the Huntsville City Meet Champion of the Boys 8U 25 Yard Freestyle Race of 1987 has yet to be broken.
If you ask any of his friends, they will also tell you Pat loved to make fires–great big fires–whether it was a fourth of July firework show or just a Friday night bonfire. As far as he was concerned, the job was not done until the police were called or the firewood ran out.
Pat did not like big crowds, group texts, or green vegetables. Pat was loyal and opinionated. He was humble, smart, and kind.
He was a devout Christian and loved the Lord, constantly seeking a deeper understanding of his faith. Pat recently told Rachel, he did not know exactly what Heaven would be like, but he knew he wanted to go.
He loved the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Atlanta Braves, and the United States of America. He also loved building his hot-rod hunter green Mustang from the ground up and spending time at the beach or the lake with his family and friends.
He met his wife, Rachel, at the Randolph Pool in 1986 and remained fiercely loyal to her his entire life. According to Rachel, the only thing Pat ever knew how to cook was breakfast, which he did every single morning for his kids. Nobody will ever make an omelet quite like Pat Clark. Countless friends, family members, and fellow service members used words to describe Pat as brave, tough, loving, passionate, loyal, the rock of his family, and one of the best men they had ever known.
He died on a Sunday afternoon doing exactly what he loved.
Pat is survived by his wife Rachel and their children Will (12), Lily (11), and Eli (8); his father Dr. George Miles Clark Jr., his sister Kelly Clark Budd (husband, James), and their children (James Jr (8) and Katie (6)); his mother and father-in-law Dan and Linda Dodson, sister-in-law Becky De Paula (husband, Fabiano) and their daughter (Juliana (5)).
He is preceded in death by his mother, Doris Carringer Clark.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at Mayfair Church of Christ. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. at the church with Jason Bybee officiating. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to Mayfair Church or Christ, earmarked to 2820 Ministries.
