Roy Gordon Clark, 83, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2025, surrounded by his loving family, after a brief battle with cancer.
Roy is survived by his devoted wife of 61 years, Donna (Black) Clark; his son, Michael Clark (Cindy Ziemba); his daughter, Traci (Clark) Hobson (Roy Hobson); and his four cherished grandchildren: Noah Clark, Logan Holt, Samuel Clark, and Molly Hobson.
Roy is best known for his life’s work as owner of Liberty Hills Golf Club, Bellefontaine and before that at Mill Creek Golf Club, Ostrander. He was a champion of public golf and its ability to bring people together. His passion and leadership extended to various roles with the National and Ohio Golf Course Owners Associations.
An accomplished athlete, Roy was inducted into the Delaware City Schools Hall of Fame for basketball and baseball. Roy earned the nickname “Duke” during his successful baseball career at Bowling Green State University. After graduating, he remained at BGSU, where he served as University Registrar. In 1977, the Clark family moved to Ostrander to manage Mill Creek Golf Club, and in 1995, Roy and Donna fulfilled a dream by purchasing and revitalizing the former Bellefontaine Country Club, transforming it into Liberty Hills Golf Club.
Roy was also a proud member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He and Donna enjoyed wintering in Sebring, Florida, where Roy loved playing golf with his Florida friends.
At Roy’s request, there will be no public services at this time. A celebration of his life will be held at Liberty Hills Golf Club later this spring in Duke’s Pub, where family and friends can gather to share memories and raise a glass in his honor.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to a fund created in Roy’s honor to support junior golfers in our local area. A GoFundMe account has been set up. Honor Roy Clark: Fund Junior Golf Programs: https://gofund.me/68182730
Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Bellefontaine, is honored to serve the Clark family and encourages anyone to share a fond memory or message of condolence at www.edsfh.com.