William Clark

August 14, 2022

William Clark

Service Details

William Earl Clark Sr. (71), born March 22, 1951, earned his wings on August 14, 2022. William was born to Littleton and Lillie Mae Clark in Clarendon, Arkansas & was the 2nd oldest of 8 children. He was educated in both the Des Moines Public Schools and St. Louis Public Schools system, later earning an accounting degree from Kirkwood Community College.

William married Zella Quinn in June 1973. The couple was blessed with two sons, William Earl Clark Jr. and Alfreddy Clark Sr. Their marriage ended years later, but they remained friends for the rest of their lives. Back in the day, William loved to tailor clothes for his ex-wife, family, & friends. He loved to dress & was known to make suits and the big apple hats, which were his trademark. William didn’t need a sewing machine and stitched everything by hand. He was good with his hands and could make just about anything. William was also a good gambler & one of the best spade players in town.

Later in his years, his hobbies were reading, listening to ole school music on the radio, and cooking. He could make a mean steak that was very tasty and would melt in your mouth. William also loved to snack. His favorites were just about anything sweet, but he loved brownies and would drink you out of a house & home if you had grape crush soda.

William is preceded in death by his parents Littleton (Lillie Mae) Clark, & sister Shirley Clark- Gettemy. Grandparents Sam Henry (Lenora) Clark and Fred (Carrie) Burns. William is survived by his sons, William Earl (Dody) Clark Jr. and Alfreddy (Nyakuot) Clark Sr., of Des Moines, IA. His siblings Brenda Hackey of Des Moines, IA, Sekou (Falecia) Mtayari Sr. of Des Moines, IA, Alf Freddie Clark of Des Moines, IA, Mammie LeFlora-Douglas of Rock Island, IL, Margaret (Jerry) Clark of Davenport, IA, Guy V (Mary) Clark of Des Moines, IA, & bonus brother, Khaleed (Makeda) London of Chicago, IL.

14 grandchildren: Keyara, William III, Niquine, Markaya, Jone't, Daeleene, Karon, Markaylynn, Alfreddy Jr., Devina, Edgar, Devon, Daja, and Baby Kingston. 12 great-grandchildren: Cazion, Sir, Rylee, Eric, Prince, Kaylee, William IV, D’Ante, Qavi, Marita, Vanessa, & Gabby.

Pallbearers: William Clark Jr, Alfreddy Clark Sr., William Clark III, William Quinn, Sekou Mtayari Sr., Guy V. Clark, & Tony Muhammad.

Honorary Pallbearers: Harry Bolden, Martell Bolden, Gary Clark Sr., Sekou Mtayari Jr., Bert Clark, Fela Clark, Perry Clark Sr., DaVoss Nelson, Sundiata Clark, & Littleton Clark.

Special thanks to Suncrest Home Health & Hospice, Hamilton Funeral Home, Bishop Nathan Berry, and 1st lady Zella Berry of True Vine Church.

Services are Saturday, August 20th @ 11:30 AM. True Vine Church 501 SE 4th - Des Moines, IA.

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