Ernie Clark

Ernest Edward (Ernie) Clark Jr, age 88, lived and loved well until the very end. You might say he died with his boots on. Actually, he was wearing penny loafers, dressed to the nines and ready to drive to the funeral of his best friend, Joe Brown. He rode a motorcycle with the Dahlonega Ridge Runners, was a regular coffee guy at Foothills Grill, and panned gold on the weekends with his son Michael.

Growing up in foster care on an upstate New York farm, Ernie was an independent kid who carried his own cast-iron skillet on his belt when he caught his own fish from Saranac Lake. Forced to wait until his 17th birthday to join, the Army stationed him in Korea, where he proudly handled military dogs. He remained an active member, dancer, and most recently parade Grand Marshall of the American Legion Post 239.

Ernie had a big heart and took in other people's family members as if they were his own. To support his ever-growing family, he took many jobs, everything from a school bus driver to a swimming pool builder, and started many businesses, including Dahlonega Sign Company. He strictly defined homeownership – parking his family in a trailer in the open lot, and with a little help from his friends, building his house from the ground up, all in his off-hours. But it was a love of professional photography and painting that lasted well into his retirement. In his final year, he began a promising new career as a landscape painter, and worked a 600-square-foot vegetable garden.

Ernie will be buried beside his predeceased wife, Helen Loretta Labombard Clark, in Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA. He is survived by Wanda Woodyard Clark, his adoring wife since June 4, 2023; his sisters Terry Johnson and Shirley Bonvich; his many children and stepchildren, who were all his children no matter their circumstance of birth; Theresa Reuther, Sharon Ray, Ernest Clark III, Robert Raymond Blue, Ralph Joseph Blue, David Anthony Blue, and Rev. Ronald James Blue, Michael Edward Clark; and their many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the local American Legion Post 239.

Funeral service will be at 4pm Thursday Oct 15 at Dahlonega Funeral Home (20 Gibson Rd, Dahlonega, GA 30533). The service will begin with a visitation and conclude with the sharing of memories. Graveside burial ceremony with military honors to be held at a later date.

Arrangements are in the care of Dahlonega Funeral Home, 20 Gibson Rd. Dahlonega, GA.