The Honorable Harry Ellwood Clark Jr.

The Honorable Harry E. Clark, Jr., former resident Judge of Talbot County, died on Tuesday, April 6, 2004. He was 89. Born in Easton, July 8, 1914, he was the son of the late Harry E., Sr. and Lynne Shield Clark. After graduating from the Staunton Military Academy in 1931, he entered the University of Virginia where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1935 and a Bachelor of Law Degree in 1938. Upon his admission to the Maryland Bar in 1938, he entered private law practice in Easton in association with the late Col. Edward T. Miller. This association ended shortly after the outbreak of World War II when Col Miller went on active duty with the U. S. Army and Mr. Clark became a commissioned officer in the U. S. Naval Reserve. During his tour of duty in the Navy, he commanded Navy Minesweepers in the North Atlantic, the Western Pacific and the East China Sea Theatres of Operation. He participated in the largest naval minesweeping operation in the history of mine warfare off the West Coast of Okinawa. After receiving an honorable discharge in 1946, he returned to Easton where he ran for and was elected State’s Attorney for Talbot County, a position he held for two terms after which he voluntarily returned to private practice. In 1966, he was appointed by the late Governor Millard Tawes as an Associate Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit of Maryland, comprised of Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Caroline and Talbot Counties. Two and a half years later, he was elected to this same position for a term of 15 years. He retired on November 18, 1983, the fourth most senior judge in the State of Maryland. Active in the community, he was a founder of the Lions Club of Easton, became its Charter President and served in that position until called to active duty in the Navy. He was also one of the founders of Bethany House, a home for emotionally disturbed boys, which was located near Cordova. He served as Vice President of this organization for many years. He also helped found the First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Easton and became its Vice-President and attorney until its merger with Loyola Federal Savings and Loan Association. He served on the Board of Directors of Memorial Hospital at Easton for twelve years. His other memberships included Christ Episcopal Church in Easton, The Talbot Bar Association, The Maryland Bar Association, The American Bar Association, The Chesapeake Bay Yacht Cub, the Tred Avon Yacht Club, the Talbot Country Club, Talbot Post #70, American Legion, the Theta Delta Chi National Fraternity, the Thomas Jefferson Society of Alumni, the Thomas Jefferson Literary and Debating Society and the Conference of Circuit Judges. His wife, the former Ellen Chaffinch whom he married in February of 1941, died October 10, 1997. Judge Clark is survived by a daughter, Anne C. Munson, of Aptos, CA; a son, H. Stevens Clark and his wife, Linda, of Cordova and one granddaughter, Holly L. Clark. Memorial services will be held at Christ Church, Easton, on Tuesday, April 13th, at 2 P.M. Burial will be private at Spring Hill Cemetery, Easton. Memorial donations may be made to Christ Church General Memorial Fund, 111 S. Harrison St., Easton, MD 21601. Funeral arrangements are by the Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., Easton.