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Clayton Eugene “Gene” Clark of Valley, passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2020, at the age of 77.

Gene was born on Buckhorn Mountain in Bland County, Virginia to father Clayton Lee Clark and mother Ruby Clark Windle. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Clayton Lee Clark, Floyd Windle, and Ruby Clark Windle; and his brother, Richard MacDonald Clark.

He is survived by his wife, Lillian Ann Clark; his brother, Charles Clark; his sister, Janetta Clark Blankenship; his three children, Cherie Clark Hull (Kevin), Richard Eugene Clark, and Kelli Clark Atkins (Scotty); many grandchildren, Constance Atkins Hudmon (Kyle), Noah Hull, Meghan Hull Childress (Chris), Karoline Hull Turner (Ben), Seth Atkins, Conner Clark, Parker Atkins, and David Fuller; and his great-grandchildren, Ruby Turner, Jameson Childress, and Gunner Hudmon.

Gene joined the Army in 1960 at the age of 18 where he served in Korea, Germany, and Vietnam. He was a Squad Leader in the First Cavalry Division, stationed near An Khe north of Saigon, Vietnam. He was assigned to Tall Comanche, and fought in many offensive operations in the Ho Chi Minh province (1965 – 1966).

On August 26, 1964, he married Lillian Ann Hammock. They had three children, Cherie, Richard, and Kelli. Gene was known in the Valley/Langdale area for his career in the automotive industry. After 38 years of selling cars, he retired from Langdale Motor Company. He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Lanett. He also served as a member of the American Legion, Post 67, and supported its efforts to assist fellow veterans.

Gene enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, classic cars, bluegrass music, grilling, and visiting the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. He was always a voice of reason, a shoulder to lean on, and kept a positive outlook no matter the circumstance. He is loved and missed by many.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, at 2 p.m. EST at the graveside in Johnson Memorial Gardens in Valley. Father Gali Balaswamy and the Reverend Ben Turner officiated. The family received friends Tuesday afternoon from 1 p.m. EST until the service hour at the Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home in Valley.

Please visit Gene’s Memorial Tribute page at www.johnsonbrownservicefh.com to leave a kind word for his family, to share a memory of Gene, or to light a Remembrance Candle in his memory.

Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home of Valley directing.