Charles F. Clark Jr.

Charles Fred Clark, Jr. 84, passed away on August 31, 2024, surrounded by family at home, in North Webster, Indiana, in the family home he built in 1963.

Fred was born January 1, 1940, to Fred, Sr. and Beatrice Clark, of North Webster, Indiana. He graduated from North Webster High School in 1957 and went on to study Hotel and Restaurant Management at Florida State University, the only years of his life he did not live in North Webster. 

After completing his degree, Fred joined his father in their successful family business, M&M Café, remembered fondly by locals to this day. Thanks to Fred’s innovation, the M&M boasted the first salad bar in the state of Indiana. In the 1970’s, Fred and his father added to their enterprise by building Clarksville, a short-lived but illustrious pioneer village enjoyed by many, including school children on field trips. It hosted old hand-hewn log cabins reconstructed on site, a blacksmith shop and a train-ride. Later, Fred enjoyed a second career in car sales. In their retirement, Fred and Judy ran an antique store called Judy’s Déjà Vu.

In his childhood, Fred frequently teased a neighbor girl named Judy. In high school, they became sweethearts. They were married on August 9, 1959 at North Webster UMC. They soon welcomed their first daughter, Mary, followed by their son, Joe. Nearly 20 years later, they welcomed three additional children, Emily, Justin & Jason. 

Fred surrendered his life to Jesus in 1973, when he was 33 years old. His faith was central to his life, always an active member of his church and doing his best to live with the character and integrity befitting a follower of Jesus. For several years, he pastored Zion Fellowship in Warsaw, where he developed a passion for preaching God’s Word. 

During his lifetime, Fred enjoyed many hobbies. He had a functioning model train and village in the basement of his home. He took up oil painting, and became proficient in landscapes, cycling through interests such as antique cars, lighthouses and wooden boats. Toward the end of his life, Fred developed an interest in painting historic building of North Webster, often working from photographs and memory to paint a building long since torn down. In the last two years of his life, he painted 24 of these historical scenes for calendars, benefiting the North Webster Senior Center. 

He is preceded in death by his mother and father, daughter Mary (Brad) Joyner and son, Joshua. He is survived by his beloved wife, Judy, and their children, Joe (Theresa) Clark, Emily (John) Miretti, Justin (Amanda) Clark and Jason (Amanda) Clark. Additionally, Fred is survived by his grandchildren Brayden and Conner, Katie (Ian) Bagley, and their children Beatrice, Lucy and Fletcher; Clarke, Caroline and Keaton, Lizzie (Jack) Martin and their children Teddy and Henry; Andy (Caden) Clark, Alex & Lexi, John Carlos, Myra, Jesse, Kingston and Lilah, and sister-in-law, Nancy Gray. 

Arrangements are entrusted to Titus Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 8056 E.500 N. North Webster, IN. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2pm at Branches Vineyard Church, 765 W Market St, Warsaw.