Larry William Clark

Dr. Larry William Clark, 76 - affectionately known as "Padre" to his kids, and 'Papaw' to his grandkids, lost his valiant battle with cancer on July 25th, 2017 at the Hosparus inpatient unit. He was a loving brother, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, and friend.

Larry was born October 11th, 1940 in Olney , Illinois, the second child of William and Mary Clark. He spent his early life living on the family farm in Noble, Illinois and graduated from Noble High School in 1958. He earned his bachelor of science in bio-chemistry in 1963 and his doctorate in lipid chemistry in 1970 at the University of Illinois-Champaign-Urbana, where he was a member of Chi Psi fraternity.

He began his career in clinical chemistry at St. Luke’s Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1974 he moved his family to Louisville, Kentucky to become laboratory director for American Biomedical. In 1976, he became Director of Clinical Chemistry at Norton’s Children’s Hospital, a position he held until 1984, when he founded Bio-Chemistry Specialties, a laboratory to service the emerging equine industry in Oldham County, Kentucky. He spent 25 years building OSHA consulting business called Bioconsult, working with many of the auto dealerships in the Louisville metro area.

Larry enjoyed singing his entire life, performing in high school plays, the Illinois Men’s Glee Club, the Oldham County Acapella Fellas as well as several barbershop quartets. A 43-year member and past president of the Oldham County Country Club, he played hundreds of rounds of golf with his friends and his two sons. He enjoyed traveling, especially in the western US, visiting his daughter and her family in Australia, hiking national parks, skiing in Colorado, the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia, and whitewater rafting/hiking numerous times down the Colorado River in Arizona. His fascination with the Grand Canyon became so great that he eventually became an elected board member for the Grand Canyon  Association. He was a friend of Bill W. for 26 years. He was an avid woodworker, spending countless hours in his basement “workshop”, passionately building unique toys and furniture for his grandchildren, family and friends. In the last few years of his life, he became an amateur beekeeper. He never lost his quest for knowledge or the chance for a new and exciting adventure.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Carol Wascher Clark, daughter’s mead Johnson(Richard) of Sanibel and Leanne Trumper(Todd) of Sydney,  Australia; sons Robert Clark of Crestwood and Gregg Clark of Louisville; grandchildren Callie, Bailey and Dane Johnson, Caroline, Jack, Sam, and Mary Clark, and Sarah and Anna Trumper. He is preceded in death by his parents William and Mary Patterson Clak, brother Kenneth Wayne Clark and sister Sharon Clark Kleine.

Larry’s family would like to thank the doctors and nursing staff at Baptist East, Dr. Barry Stoler and Dr. John Huber who guided and encouraged him through the last two years of his life. Also thanks to the Hosparus team headed by Tasha that lovingly cared for him during the last 6 months.

Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Grand Canyon Association, PO box 399, Grand Canyon, Az 86023 or Hosparus of Louisville in Larry’s name.

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