Death Notices: J. Ronald Clark & Dewanda Jo Clark, The Dalles

Renowned local golfer and long-time resident of The Dalles, J. Ronald Clark, age 94,  recently a resident of Vancouver, WA, passed away on December 21, 2022. 

His wife Dewanda Jo Clark, age 90, A resident of Vancouver, WA, preceded him in death just weeks earlier on November 29, 2022. 

The couple had recently moved from The Dalles to Vancouver to be closer to family. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Spencer, Libby & Powell Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

Ron Clark

CCCNews Interview with Ron Clark

In July of 2021, CCCNews had the opportunity to interview Ron Clark about his experiences as a golfer both at The Dalles Country Club and in the amateur ranks after playing on the University of Oregon team.

In High School, Clark played in a foursome with Ben Hogan in 1948 in an exhibition at The Dalles Country Club, and scored just a few strokes above the legend. 

That was huge.

Ben Hogan from 1946-1953 won nine major championships in only 16 starts.

And Hogan was so impressed with Clark’s length off the tee and all-around shot-making that he tried to talk Ron’s parents into letting him back Clark on the PGA Tour, according to a story written by Verne Tietjen in 1996 in The Dalles Weekly Reminder.  Clark opted for college instead and became the top-rated college golfer in Oregon and earned a degree in accounting.

He toured in the amateur ranks after college.

“I was playing when Arnold Palmer was,” he said. “We were both on the national college tour down south at the time. In the first qualifying round, we were tied.”

After college, Clark was invited to play in an amateur vs. pro tour and he made some trips around the west coast, noting he played in a tournament hosted by Bing Crosby at Pebble Beach.

Clark remained an avid golfer and was a steadfast accountant for the local community. 

His best score at The Dalles Country Club? 63, according to Tietjen

He remained an avid golfer into his late 80s. 

“I stopped playing a few years ago,” he said in July of 2021.