Ruth Diane Geiger Clark, 70, of Huntsville, AL, surrounded by her family, went home to be with Jesus on Tuesday, July 11th, 2023, at UAB Hospital MICU after a brief illness. We are comforted with thoughts of her joyful reunion with PawPaw, Linda, Meechi, Pops, Bob and Carol, among others dear to her and to our family.
Diane was born in Hattiesburg, MS, between sister, Linda, and brother, Larry. She met and married her husband, James William “Bill” Clark, Jr., while both were attending the University of North Alabama. Diane, Bill and their two sons, Will and Ben, served a 3-year term in Tokyo, Japan as Missionaries and English teachers. They lived in the Chicago suburbs for 2 years while Bill was attending seminary. When they returned to Alabama, Diane split her time between being a church administrator, teacher of children with special needs, stay-at-home-mom, and a consummate volunteer. When Diane was blessed with grandchildren, she traveled to see them often, treasuring up their performances and cheering them on as their greatest fan.
Diane was a faithful and joyfully devoted wife, mother, daughter, and friend. Overflowing with joy, compassion, love, and encouragement, she poured out her gifts to everyone in her life. If you know Diane, you’ve laughed, cried, sang, danced with her, and you’ve been hugged and encouraged by her often. Strangers in her path were greeted warmly with genuine kindness to make them feel special and loved. Diane loved her family and friends deeply, fiercely, and unconditionally. Diane held nothing back; she poured herself out in service to others for her Creator, Savior, and King Jesus Christ, whom she sought to glorify and honor with every breath. Diane loved us because Jesus first loved her.
She was preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Bob Clark; sister-in-law, Carol Clark; sister, Linda Judd; mother-in-law, Mary Clark; her “precious Daddy”, Talmage Etheridge “Jerry” Geiger; and most recently, her father-in-law, James William “Jim” Clark. She joins this great cloud of witnesses cheering her family on to the finish line. Diane is survived by her mother, Ruth Messer Lanctot (Richard); her husband of 50 years, James William “Bill” Clark, Jr.; sons, James William “Will” Clark III (Laura) and Patrick Benjamin “Ben” Clark (Lisa); grandchildren, Samuel Omar Banks, James William “William” Clark IV, Naomi Clark, and Silas Clark; brother, Larry Geiger (Melinda); brother-in-law, Jim Judd (Sharon); brother-in-law, Steve Clark (Karen); nieces and nephews, Alicia Judd Jones (Chris), Zach Judd (Amanda), Melissa Geiger, Brady Geiger, Brianna Clark Christian (Jarred), Mary Beth Clark Nix (Zach), Lindsey Clark, and Elainey Clark Williams (Dallas); great nieces and great nephews, Lily Jones, Bentley Christian, Lexi Christian, Dallas Christian, Lucas Nix, Judah Nix, and Aly Clark; and her little Westie, Lulu.
Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Saturday, July 15, 2023, at Whitesburg Baptist Church main campus. The funeral service will follow at 12:00 p.m. with Pastor Kevin Ravenscraft officiating. Burial will be in Faith Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of her sister Linda Judd (https://www.alz.org/) or Rainbow Omega in honor of her friend Jim McKnight (https://rainbowomega.org/).
