Shirley Clark

Major Shirley (Rowe) Clark was born June 15, 1924, in Hancock, MI to Richard and Clara (Hocking) Rowe and was promoted to Glory on July 30, 2021 in Portage, MI. As a girl, she attended Hancock schools and graduated with the class of 1942. She was employed at Vollwerth's Sausage and Lieblein's in Hancock, and REO Motor Company in Lansing. As a member of the Hancock United Methodist Church she met The Salvation Army by responding to a request for a piano player. There she found her Calling to full-time service as a Salvation Army Officer. She entered The Salvation Army Training College in Chicago and was ordained and commissioned as a Lieutenant in 1947. Her first appointment was in Kenosha, WI as the Assistant Officer. She met Lieutenant Alvin Clark of Midland, MI in 1949 and they married in June 1952. They had three loving children and were married for over 60 years. Together they held corps appointments in Upper Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota. She attended The Salvation Army International Congress in London in 1978 and toured the Holy Land in 1989. They retired in 1992 from Traverse City, MI. In retirement she was an active member of The Salvation Army of Hancock, and then Kalamazoo. Her interests included: crocheting & knitting; piano, accordion, and organ; trombone since H.S. Marching Band; telling children about Jesus; genealogy; The Green Bay Packers; singing; secretarial skills; The Salvation Army Ladies Home League; and The Salvation Army World Services. She is survived by her beloved three children: Major David (Bonnie) Clark, Waldo, WI; Joel (Jane) Clark, Kalamazoo, MI; and Rhoda Clark, Kalamazoo, MI; 9 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; one brother-in-law, Don Lucas of Holly, MI; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 60 years; her parents; three sisters, Betty Tobie, Marjorie Beardslee, Joyce Lucas; and three brothers, Ross Richard Rowe, Osborne Joseph Rowe, and Richard J. Rowe. A memorial service will be held at The Salvation Army, 1700 S Burdick St., Kalamazoo, MI 49001 on Saturday, August 14, 2021, at 1:00pm with visitation from 12:00pm-1:00pm. Major Bob Fay will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to The Salvation Army, Kalamazoo, MI. Please visit Shirley's personalized online guestbook at https://www.langelands.com