CHESTER HOWARD CLARK

04 August 2021 – 23 June 2026

On June 23, 2026, of Gloucester Twp.  Age 104.  Beloved husband of the late Ann (nee Loehwing).  Devoted father of David (Dorothea), Douglas, Sr. (the late Laura) and Daniel (Lynne) Clark, Sr.  Loving grandfather of Dan, Jr. (Allyson), Stefanie (Bill), Doug, Jr. (Gloria), Walter (Brandee), and Alex.  Proud great-grandfather of Samantha (Chris), Andrew (Lindsay), Kaitlin (Colton), Alison (Tyler), James (Emily), Mackenzie, Rachel, Christian, Lauren, and Clara Rose. Proud great-great-grandfather of Aiden, Carmen, Cooper, Eden and Reuben.

A Life Lived with Integrity, Courage, Perseverance and Joy
Chester Howard Clark passed away peacefully from natural causes at Jefferson Hospital in Washington Township, New Jersey, on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, six weeks short of his 105th birthday. Following the death of his wife Anna Elizabeth Loehwing Clark in 2013, Chester lived with his oldest son David, and daughter-in-law Dorothea, at their home in Sicklerville.
Chester (known to many as Chet) was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, on 4 August 1921 to Michael Peter Clark and Mabel Frances Price Provost Clark, the 4th of 5 Clark children and the 9th of 11 children born to his mother and her three successive husbands. He dropped out of high school during the Great Depression in the 1930s to work to help support the family. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) as a teenager, laboring on infrastructure projects in Idaho. Drafted into the Army in 1942, he served first with the military police in New York City, then entered infantry training in California before shipping out to the Pacific Theater. His unit was part of the invasion force designated to invade Japan. President Truman’s decision to use atomic bombs over the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended the war. With the end of the war in the Pacific, Chester expected to return home. He was instead sent to Korea, where anew war was brewing. He declined a promotion to Master Sargent and left the Army, returning home in late 1946.
At age 26, Chester, now back in the U.S., met soon to be 23-year-old Anna (known to all as Ann to differentiate her from her mother, Anna) in early 1947 at a Methodist church event. Chester earned her hand in marriage. They married on 21 June 1947 and began a life together that spanned nearly 66 years, ending with Ann’s death in April 2013.
Chester secured employment in the century-old Colgate Palmolive factory in Jersey City, where many of the Clark Clan worked. His older brother William was the chief union negotiator with Company management. In the heyday of union power in the United States, employment at Colgate’s provided stable employment and an increasing standard of living.
Chet and Ann’s first son, David, arrived in March 1948 and was soon joined by Douglas in September 1951. Their third son, Daniel, arrived in April 1958 and may have been a surprise!
The family lived on the first floor of a two bedroom, single bath duplex owned by Ann’s parents, Walter and Anna Loehwing. The Loehwing’s lived on the second floor.
When Daniel entered kindergarten in 1963, Ann went to work at Colgate’s plant. Both Clark’s continued to work at Colgate’s until Chester retired in 1982 and Ann retired in 1986.
In the 1950’s the Loehwing’s purchased a home in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. The families enjoyed decades of fun at the beach, worshiped at the Great Auditorium and other events sponsored by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association.
Chester was “raised” a Master Mason in Enterprise Lodge No 31 in 1964 and the Masonic fraternity became an integral part of the family’s life. Chester served as Worshipful Master of Enterprise Lodge in 1971, and as Worshipful Master of Boiling Spring Lodge in the 1980s and1990s. In 1986 he was chosen by the Grand Master to serve as a Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey, earning the honorific title “Right Worshipful.”
Ann and Chester were members of Esther Chapter No. 4, Order of the Eastern Star. They enjoyed traveling together to “Star” meetings and events for more than 40 years.
Chester and Ann raised their sons in the Methodist church and were life long Methodists. For the past 12 years Chester was a member of St John’s Church, formerly St. John’s United Methodist Church, in Turnersville, N.J. where he was a beloved senior member of the congregation.
After Ann died in 2013, Chester joined David and Dorothea at their home in Sicklerville. To provide for Chester’s needs as a senior citizen, it was determined that an addition to the house was necessary. This addition offered both privacy and proximity. David and Dorothea dedicated their lives to Dad’s care and comfort. They gave freely of their time and love and are undisputedly responsible for his longevity.
Chester was a proud grandfather, great-grandfather and great, great-grandfather. He will be fondly remembered by all of them for his smile, great sense of fun and joy in them.
Chester is predeceased by his father (circa 1938) and his mother (1968), and by all 10 of his brothers and sisters, the last of his generation in our family. Amazingly, all 26 of his direct descendants survive, born over a period of 78 years. He is survived by his three sons: David Walter Clark (Dorothea), Douglas Howard Clark (Laura, who passed in 2019), and Daniel Martin Clark (Lynne), five grandchildren – Stefanie Clark Warnock (William), Douglas Howard Clark, Jr.(Gloria), Walter Clark (Brandee), Alexander Clark, and Daniel Martin Clark, Jr. (Allison), 14 greatgrandchildren – Samantha Warnock Collyar (Chris), Andrew Norik Warnock (Lindsay), Kaitlin Elizabeth Warnock Kelley (Colton), Alison Lynn Warnock Lepkowski (Tyler), James Warnock(Emily), Mackenzie Warnock, Rachel Warnock, Christian Matthew Warnock, Lauren Ashley Clark, Clara Rose Clark, Sienna Rae Clark, Tristan Everett Clark, Conrad Padraig Clark, and Westley Cormac Clark, and five great grandchildren – Aiden Collyar, Carmen Kelly, Cooper Eli Kelly, Eden Laura Lepkowski, and Reuben William Warnock.

Family and friends are invited to attend his viewing Tuesday 4:00-6:00 PM at the Egizi Funeral Home, 119 Ganttown Road, Washington Twp. there will be a Masonic service at 6:00 PM followed by an Eastern Star service and Pastor Mike Bill from St. John’s Church.  On Wednesday morning, there will be another viewing from 9:00-10:00 AM.  Interment will take place at Columbus Cemetery, Columbus, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Chester’s memory may be made to St. John’s Church, 149 Ganttown Road, Turnersville, NJ 08012.

“A Life Well Lived Is Worth Remembering”