Ray Chappell Clark

November 25, 1927 — January 17, 2018

Ray Chappell Clark, 90, of Mt. Pleasant, SC passed away January 17, 2018, at MUSC, following a long illness. He was married to the late Ruth Reeves Clark, who preceded him in death. They were married almost 60 years. Ray was born November 25, 1927, in Fairfield County, near Winnsboro, SC, son of Eugene Steele Clark and Estelle Chappell Clark.

He is survived by children B. Christine Clark (Lynn Morris), Zionsville, PA; John Chappell Clark, Charleston, SC; and Michal Clark Miller (David), Crownsville, MD; by grandchildren Elyse Chappell Clark, Charleston, SC; Logan Betz Miller and Carson Reeves Miller, Crownsville, MD; by great-grandson Finley Chappell Spence (son of Elyse); by sister Mrs. Donald Aaron (Bess) as well as many other friends and family.

He grew up in Columbia and graduated from Dreher HS, Class of 1945, and the University of SC, Class of 1949, with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. Upon graduation he worked in the US steel industry and was employed by American Bridge Co. in Gary, IN. Three years later he entered the US Navy Officer Candidate School and was commissioned Ensign in the Civil Engineer Corps. While in the USN he was deployed with a Seabee unit and took defensive action against Castro’s rebels. Subsequently he served in S Vietnam 1968-69 and received 2 Purple Heart medals, a South Vietnam Wound Medal, Vietnam Medal of Honor 1st Class, and other numerous medals. While on active duty he completed post-graduate studies in Nuclear Physics at the University of Idaho, 1960-1961, earned an MA in Public Administration from Roosevelt University, 1970, Chicago, and completed additional post-graduate work in Public Administration at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA. He served on active duty for 20 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Commander in 1972.

After retirement from USN he was Director of Public Works, Charleston County School District, 1976-1982. 1982-1985 he was employed as Chief Engineer, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ministry of Defense and Aviation. In 1985-1986 he was Deputy Program and Site Manager for Maintenance and Operations of Military Facilities in Sinai Peninsula with Multi-National Forces and Observers, Israel, Sinai, Gaza, Egypt. During 1990-1993 he worked as Staff Civil Engineer, Disaster Recovery, Hurricane HUGO for City of Charleston. Beginning in 1988, he was a private consulting engineer on selected projects until retirement in 1993. During his later years, writing a multi-volume autobiography was a passion that occupied much of his time.

Ray was a registered and licensed Professional Engineer in SC and IL. Participation in the following professional organizations and activities was also very important to him: Soc of Amer Military Engineers (past president, Subic Bay, Philippines, received Worldwide Distinguished Post Award); Amer Soc Civil Engineers; Naval Reserve Assoc (life member); Charleston Civil Engineers’ Club (past president, vice president, secretary/treasurer); National Engineers’ Week Observance (chairman tri-county [Charleston, Dorchester, Berkeley Counties]); Model A Ford Restoration Club of America, Low-Country Region; Sullivan’s Island Baptist Church attendance for many years.

One additional note of significance, he was a grandson, many times removed, of Sea Captain John Chappell of the Speedwell, sister ship of the Mayflower. The Speedwell under Captain Chappell’s command, landed in 1635 at Jamestown Colony in VA, with a load of pilgrims.

Visitation will be held 4-6 PM Saturday, (immediate and extended family 3:30 pm) January 20, 2018, at the James A. McAlister Funeral Home, 1620 Savannah Hwy., Charleston. Funeral will be held at 1:30 PM Sunday, January 21, 2018, at Sullivan’s Island Baptist Church, 1753 Central Ave., Sullivan’s Island, followed by graveside burial with military honors at Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens, 1308 Mathis Ferry Rd., Mt. Pleasant.

Memorials may be made to Sullivan's Island Baptist Church, 1753 Central Ave., Sullivan's Island, SC 29483

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