Virgil Lestoy Clark Obituary (1939 - 2019)

Our beloved Father and Grandfather Virgil Lestoy Clark (Popi) age 79 passed away peacefully surrounded by family on January 2, 2019 just after midnight, at Sagewood at Daybreak memory care in South Jordan, Utah, due to complications from a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Virgil was born March 23, 1939, in Greenville, S. Carolina to loving parents Frances Marion Rhoden and Virgil Houston Clark Virgil enjoyed spending time on his Grandfather and Grandmother Clark’s farm as a child and had many stories to share of his precocious childhood. He graduated from Greenville High School in 1957, and being the independent young man he was, chose to enlist in the Armed forces that summer. He served in the BTRY 266th (AFA) Airborne field artillery. Virgil had a sense of adventure from the time he was a small child, and after serving in the Army he continued to discover the world through his professional work in sales and eventually executive management. Early in his adult life Virgil met and married his first beautiful wife Bonnie, and together they had two daughters Kimberly and Stacy. . After 10 years together the marriage was not to be and Virgil found himself moving out of the country for work, first to Canada where he met his second lovely wife Ing - Marie, and then to England where his third daughter Sacha was born. Climbing the corporate ladder afforded him opportunities to move abroad and visit diverse places and cultures from Amsterdam to Africa. After his father died in 1977, Virgil made the bold move to leave corporate life behind and move back to his roots in Greenville, S. Carolina to be near family and where his fourth daughter Jennifer was born. Never one to sit still, even for a minute, Virgil quickly dove into many ventures, setting up a Business brokerage firm, printing company, chemical company, and even an ice cream shop just to sweeten the deal. Virgil enjoyed a vast social life, attending many community events and spending much of his time at his lake house and on his houseboat in Lake Hartwell. Being a favorite past time he enjoyed entertaining many family and friends on his Houseboat. He loved to cook for people, which was always appreciated by all who knew him. From his delectable London Broil to exotic Japanese Tempura, he had a knack in the kitchen and his creations never disappointed. His southern roots run deep and one of his specialties was the best fried chicken ever to be found anywhere. None of the family has been able to duplicate it. His culinary talents will definitely be missed. Along with cooking, gardening and boating, Virgil was a wicked racquetball player, delivering a serve no one could return. Perhaps his favorite hobby of all was snow skiing. After the birth of his eldest grandchild Taylor, he began traveling to Utah every Christmas to spend a couple of weeks with family, cooking and skiing the Rocky mountains with the best snow on Earth. Virgil was a large personality and one who loved to tell stories and laugh at his own jokes, as we were all laughing along with him. He had a love of poetry and would read and share his favorites with his children often. He loved his “darling” girls: Kimberly (Kyle), Stacy (Eric), Sacha (Mike), Jennifer, and grandchildren: Taylor, Riley, Ellis, Asa, Mason and Charlotte who have survived his death. Also survived is youngest sister Polly. Preceded in death are his sweet parents Virgil and Frances and sister Nancy. Alzheimer’s may have robbed him of his mental and physical faculties but it did not rob him of his spirit. Instead it peeled away the layers of the world so that we were given a glimpse of how God sees our father and he could be prepared to return home devoid of the things that can trap us in this life. Virgil was able to feel the love of his family in the end and understand that all things that matter in this life begin and end with family. We will miss him dearly. “It is what it is” and “this too will pass” were two of his favorite and frequently expressed phrases. They seem appropriate at this time, our sorrow is for a moment, this too shall pass and our joy will be great when we are reunited again for eternity. Virgil’s brain will be donated to the Gift to Life program at the University of Utah for Alzheimer’s research. The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers at Sagewood connections care center and amazing Hospice team from Brighton for their love and and service to our father. There will be a celebration of life service held Sunday, January 6th at 1:00 p.m. in the Family room at the Sagewood at Daybreak senior living community in South Jordan, Utah. In lieu of flowers we are asking that you please consider donating to your local chapter of the Alzheimer’s association. Messages and memorable stories are always appreciated.