Edward Louis Clark

Candler - Edward Louis Clark, 83, entered into rest, July 11, 2007. A multi-generation native of Western North Carolina, Edward Louis Clark Ed was an active businessman and sportsman throughout his life. He attended Mars Hill College and received his B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy, Clark attended Harvard University for a Masters of Business Administration. For over 25 years, Ed Clark served as both the Sales and General Manager of the Clark-Fowler Cigar Company, a large wholesale and vending operations company serving all of Western North Carolina. Clark was also the Treasurer and Director of the Rollin Pin Bakery, a successful Asheville retail baking and catering company. For many years, Clark served as the President and Chairman of the Board of Clarks Printing and Communication Service located in Westside Business Park. Among his many civic activities, Ed Clark served as a Director and Chairman of the Legislative Committee for the North Carolina Wholesale Association. He served for several years as a member of the Mars Hill College Board of Advisors and as a Director of the Asheville Y.M.C.A. An active Rotarian for many years, Clark was the President-Elect and a Director of the West Asheville Rotary Club as well as a Paul Harris Fellow. He also served as a Deacon and Sunday School teacher at the First Baptist Church in Asheville. Ed Clark is a member of Hominy Baptist Church, the church his parents helped to found. As a sportsman and horse breeder, Ed Clark served as a Director of the North Carolina Horse Council. He was President of the North Carolina Thoroughbred Breeders Association and was twice awarded the coveted honor of being named Breeder of the Outstanding Thoroughbred race Horse of the Year in North Carolina by this organization. Ed Clark is survived by his wife, Mary K. Clark; four children, Carol C. Hensley of Asheville; Bonnie E. Clark of Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Mary Jane Altizer of Johnson City, Tennessee; Thomas Andrew Clark of Asheville; and three grandchildren, A. Hunter Clark; Kramer T. Clark, both of Asheville and Carly E. Altizer of Johnson City, Tennessee. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Anders-Rice Funeral Home. The family will receive friends for 6 to 8:00 P.M. on Thursday, July 12 at Anders-Rice, 1428 Patton Avenue in Asheville. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 P.M. Friday, July 13 at Hominy Baptist Church on Candler School Road with Rev. Dr. Joe Yelton officiating. Interment will follow at Lewis Memorial Park with military honors provided by the Buncombe County Veterans Council Memorial Team.. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Hominy Baptist Adult Day Care, 135 Candler School Road, Candler, NC 28715 or Care Partners Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.