Rev. Crea Miller Clark

The Rev. Crea Miller Clark, 91, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 7, with his family by his side at the Cumberland Crossings Retirement Community in Carlisle, where he had lived for the past 17 years.

Born July 3, 1932, in Elderton, Pa., he was the son of Clarence Plummer Clark and Estella May (Miller) Clark. He married Janet Lucille (Gittings) Clark in Millvale, Pa. in 1954, after they were both graduated from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa. They enjoyed 69 years of wedded bliss.

After graduation from Pittsburgh Xenia (now Theological) Seminary, he was ordained as a Teaching Elder in the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (UPCUSA). He served churches in Garnett, Kansas; Barberton, Ohio; Pontiac, Michigan; Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania (also serving as moderator of the Beaver-Butler Presbytery); Manhattan, Kansas; Newport and Millerstown, Pennsylvania. Upon retirement in 1997, he served in First Presbyterian Church in Carlisle. He and Janet were partners in ministry: him in pastoral roles and her in music and educational responsibilities. They raised their children as a faithful family.

Crea's love for God and the Gospel guided every part of his life. A loving and compassionate husband, father, and grandfather, he loved history and enjoyed camping, golfing, and traveling with his family. He was an empathetic listener, faithful prayer, a lover of history, walks, dogs, and puns, and a fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Penn State Nittany Lions.

He is survived by Janet, his wife, daughters Lois (Larry) Ramey in Dayton, Ohio; Janet (Wiley) Bucey in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania; and Carol (Stephen) Pardridge in Carlisle, Pennsylvania; and son Jonathan (Lynn) Clark in Golden, Colorado; grandchildren Amanda Ramey in Urbana, Illinois; Clark (Lauren) Ramey in Johnson City, Tennessee; Major Jonathan (Bethany) Bucey in Bury St. Edmonds, England; Sally (Abdul-Aziz Ali) Bucey in Ithaca, New York; James Bucey (David Hughes) in Gallatin, Tennessee; Joshua (Evan Baach) Pardridge in Washington, D.C.; Jonathan Clark in Golden, Colorado; and Allison Clark in Fort Collins, Colorado; and great-grandchildren Jensen Ramey, Margaret Wiley Bucey and Eloise Bucey; and numerous Clark and Gittings nephews, nieces and in-laws.

He was preceded in death by his brothers Clarence Neal Clark of Elderton, C. Paul Clark of Pittsburgh; and sisters June Edgar of Fort Myers, Fla.; Martha Altman of Kittanning, Pennsylvania; and Claire Rupert of Delmont, Pennsylvania.

Relatives and friends are invited to a viewing from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Thursday, January 11, 2024 at Hoffman Funeral & Cremation, Ltd., and a service to celebrate Crea's life at 12:00 Saturday, January 13, at First Presbyterian Church, Carlisle. After the service, family will greet guests and provide a light luncheon. Interment will be in the Meeting House Springs Cemetery, 1000 Waggonners Gap Road, Carlisle, PA.

To sign the guestbook please visit www.hoffmanfh.com.