© Greer Funeral Home
235 S Pennsylvania Ave.
Mangum, OK 73554
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Robert Lee Clark, Sr.

January 8, 1957 - September 19, 2026

Robert "Bob" Lee Clark was born January 8, 1957, in East St. Louis, Illinois, to William Clark and Wilma Jean (Higgerson) Clark, later Lyerla. A quiet and gentle man by nature, Bob lived his life with a deep sense of responsibility-to his family, his country, his faith, and the work placed before him. He never needed recognition or attention. He simply believed in doing his part, doing it well, and caring for the people around him.

Bob grew up in Cahokia, Illinois, graduating from Cahokia high school in 1975. As a young man, he enjoyed playing tennis, but something far more important happened during those school years: he met Sheila. What began as a high school relationship grew into a lifetime together. Bob and Sheila were married May 14, 1977, in Sikeston, Missouri, and together they built a family and a life that would carry them through the many moves and adventures of military service.

Service to country was something Bob understood from an early age. His father had served in the United States Army, leaving Bob with a strong appreciation for military service and the responsibility that came with it. On November 26, 1975, Bob enlisted in the United States Air Force, beginning a career that would shape much of his life.

He became an Aerospace Propulsion Craftsman, working with aircraft engines and developing a skill that over the years seemed to become almost instinctive. Bob did not simply repair engines; he knew them. After decades around aircraft, he could listen to an engine run and often know from its sound whether something was right or wrong.

His abilities also extended far beyond his regular duties. While stationed at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, he was assigned to Prime BEEF Team, where his practical skills and willingness to work continued to serve him well when a destructive tornado caused significant damage to the Altus AF Base. When help was needed to rebuild, Bob worked as an electrician and assisted with repairs. It was typical of him: if there was work to be done and he knew how to help, Bob went to work.

His military career eventually brought Bob, Sheila, and their family to southwest Oklahoma. When they first arrived, they rented a farmhouse near Tipton while Bob served at Altus Air Force Base.

After 20 years of faithful service, Bob was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force on November 30, 1995, having attained the rank of Technical Sergeant. Yet taking off the uniform did not mean Bob was finished serving.

He transitioned into civil service at Altus Air Force Base and returned to the aircraft he knew so well. Bob first worked with the enormous engines of the C-5 Galaxy and later with the C-17 Globemaster III. During approximately 22 years of civil service.

For Bob, working on airplanes was more than an occupation. He genuinely enjoyed it. He liked the order and routine of his work, the challenge of finding a problem and fixing it, and the satisfaction of knowing the aircraft had been cared for properly. Bob was happiest when his hands and mind were occupied. He was never much for sitting around when there was something that needed to be done.

There was, however, another side to Bob that could easily be missed by those who knew him only through his work.

He was an artist at heart.

Bob loved to draw and had a particular appreciation for nature. He possessed beautiful handwriting and a steady, creative hand. He also enjoyed playing the guitar, although in keeping with his quiet personality, he generally preferred playing privately rather than performing for others.

Above all, Bob loved his family and treasured the time he was able to spend with them. He and Sheila were blessed with two children, Robert Lee Clark Jr. and Laura Niswoger and her husband, Paul. His family grew to include seven grandchildren: Ray and Krys Paulsen; Madeline and Jacquelin Clark; Brianna; Elsa; and William Robert.

There was something about Bob that children seemed to understand immediately. Babies and little ones were naturally drawn to him, and the feeling was mutual. Animals seemed to find that same sense of comfort in his presence. Perhaps they recognized what those who knew Bob already understood-that beneath his quiet exterior was an exceptionally gentle and caring heart.

That gentleness became an important part of Bob's life at First Baptist Church of Altus. Raised in the Pentecostal faith, Bob later found his church home at First Baptist Church, where he was baptized by Sonny Tims. Bob and Sonny shared a special relationship, and his faith became an increasingly meaningful part of his life.

For many years, Bob taught the three-year-old Sunday School class at First Baptist Church. It was a role that suited him perfectly. He had the patience to sit with children, listen to them, teach them, laugh with them, and draw pictures alongside them. For a man who spent so many years working around enormous aircraft and powerful engines, some of his most meaningful work was done sitting in a Sunday School classroom surrounded by little children.

That contrast said a great deal about Bob.

He could understand the complexities of an aircraft engine by listening to it run, yet he had the gentleness to make a three-year-old feel safe and important. He could serve his country for decades without seeking praise and then quietly return home to his family. He could repair, build, draw, create, teach, and care for others, always without needing to make himself the center of attention.

Bob is also survived by his siblings, William Henry Clark Jr.; Ronald Clark and Lynn; and LaVada Smith-Diercks; along with numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

Bob's life was marked by service. He served his country for 20 years in the United States Air Force and continued that service for approximately 22 more years as a civilian at Altus Air Force Base. He served his church by giving his time and patience to its youngest members. He serve the Altus community through Boy Scout leadership, carpentry work on Imagination Station, and volunteer work with the SOCAG Head Start program. He chaparoned a Colorado trip with That Altus Band and a mission trip to Florida with the Base Chapel to build housing for those affected by a hurricane. Most importantly, he served his family through the countless quiet and ordinary ways that ultimately mean the most.

The Clark family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sunday, September 26, 2026 at Lowell - Tims Funeral Home, Altus, Oklahoma.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, September 27, 2026 at Lowell - Tims Funeral Home Chapel, Altus, Oklahoma. Mr. Clark will be receiving military honors at 1:00 p.m. Monday, September 27, 2026 at Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, Oklahoma.

Funeral services have been entrusted to Lowell - Tims Funeral Home and Crematory, Altus, Oklahoma.