Richard U. Clark, 78, passed away after a brief illness on December 4, 2023 in St. Augustine, Florida. He was born on July 19, 1945 in Pulaski, Tennessee. Born and raised in a farming family in Giles County, he attended Jones High School and the University of Tennessee where he graduated in 1967 with a degree in Agronomy. His pursuit of his Masters Degree at UT was interrupted for one year when he was drafted into the US Army and went off to fight in Vietnam, but he returned to complete his course work in 1971. He worked in the Agricultural industry his entire career, first as a chemical salesman for Ciba Geigy and ultimately founded and ran several successful agrichemical businesses. These businesses allowed him to travel the world in pursuit of the technologies and ingredients needed for his companies’ products. He was also involved in various real estate investments throughout the years.
Richard especially loved watching his granddaughters compete in various athletic and artistic endeavors, working on the family farm, rocking in rocking chairs, and cheering for and griping about Tennessee football. He greatly valued the legacy of hard work and self determination he inherited from his parents and worked tirelessly to bequeath that legacy to his children and grandchildren.
Richard was the son of Rivers and Mae Clark, who predeceased him. He is survived by his wife, Kathryn R. Clark, sons Gregory (Kristi) and Phillip (Katy Pat), four precious granddaughters Maddie (18), Allison (17), Lola (15) and Shannon (14), brother Edward (Toby) (Bettye) Clark, sister Mary Nell (John) Williamson, brothers-in-law James (Melanie) Rentz, Andrew (Debbie) Rentz, and several nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Bennett-May Funeral Home on Sunday, December 17 in Pulaski, TN. Visitation will be held 11am-2pm (CST) followed by services at 2pm (CST). His final wish was to have his ashes spread at the rock barn on his family’s farm in Lynnville. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made payable to UTIA, memo is Richard and Kathryn Clark Endowment, and mailed to the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, 107 Morgan Hall, 2621 Morgan Hall Circle, Knoxville, TN 37996.
Bennett-May & Pierce Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements for Richard U. Clark.
