Alfred "Al" Eugene Clark

Alfred “Al” Eugene Clark, age 82, of Hot Springs, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, surrounded by his family. He was born on September 10, 1938, in St. Charles, Arkansas, to Earl Burnett Clark and Wilma Faye Bazarrow Clark, also loved and raised by his stepmother, Nellie Fitzgerald Clark, who all preceded him in death.

Al was multi-talented. He taught high school English and was a high school librarian at Cutter Morning Star and Lakeside schools, where he made an impression on many young people over the years. At CMS he started and coached the track team with no budget and no facilities simply because he noticed some young men who didn’t participate in athletics who he thought needed more attention. Those boys had some extraordinary successes and became fans of Mr. Clark for life.

To make ends meet for his young family, Al drove a school bus, filmed football games, worked in restaurants and gas stations, did concrete work and painted houses. He taught a night class in economics, and at one time many of the bankers in Hot Springs had been his students. He kept a garden that grew to two acres and included a pond for irrigation.

Early in his teaching career, he gave his heart to Christ and was called to preach. While continuing to teach, he pastored churches in Garland County and in others as far as two hours away. He was ordained in both the Nazarene and Church of God denominations. He had a gospel radio program on KXOW radio for many years called “Voice in the Wilderness”.

In the seventies, he left teaching to take a job as District Manager for World Book Enterprises where he was quite successful. He left that to pastor the historic First Church of God on Parker and Hawthorn. While he was there, in order to pay the bills, he and his wife Mildred started a little business in their carport called Clarks Materials that grew into Clarks Building and Decorating Center, which his family operates to this day.

Al and Mildred started and pastored the Church of Philadelphia, an undenominational church that first met in their home and is now located on property the couple donated.

Work was Al’s recreation. In semi-retirement, he and Mildred built a farm, where they raised cattle, chickens, goats, catfish and grandkids. He spent his days on a dozer, a tractor, or managing a fencing or wood cutting crew. Al could always find more work than ten men could do.

In their success, Al and Mildred always lived a modest lifestyle. They often hired recovering addicts, alcoholics and others who needed a second chance. Al’s heart was always towards giving but without others knowing. He operated a major food bank out of the church for many years that he largely financed. Much of their income went towards supporting ministries around the state, across the country and around the world. Al never wished for anyone to know that. They had a special love for children and children’s ministries and were enthusiastic supporters of orphanages in Haiti.

Regardless of what work he was doing, Al was always about three things: winning souls for Heaven, helping people who need it on this Earth, and loving his family.

Al is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Mildred Dillion Clark; his children and their spouses, Alan and Jana Clark, Suzie and Shawn O’Brien and Becky and Todd Hilborn, all of Hot Springs; ten grandchildren and their spouses, Andrew Clark, Shay Clark (Florian), Linsey O’Brien Johnson (Bobby), Winter O’Brien Procell (Barrett), Nathan O’Brien (Megan), Ethan O’Brien, Tyler Hilborn, Zachary Hilborn, Spencer Hilborn and Isaac Hilborn; twelve great-grandchildren, Kylan, Chloe, Liam, Lane, Ireland, Caedmon, Keegan, Rory, Brandon, Braden, Dante and Tegan; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members and a host of wonderful friends.

In loving memory, the family has decided to celebrate Alfred’s life on the family farm at 2:00PM, Sunday, April 11, 2021. Family and friends are welcome to come and share their love and respects.

Arrangements are under the direction of Davis-Smith Funeral Home, Hot Springs.

Guest registry is at www.davis-smith.com.