John Berry Clarke, Sr.'s Obituary
13928On the morning of January 9th, 2026, John Berry Clarke passed away at his home in Midlothian, Virginia after a brief battle with lung cancer.
He is survived by his two sons, John Berry Clarke, Jr. and David Alan Clarke; his daughter, Kristina Nicole Clarke; his granddaughter, Charlotte Olivia Clarke; his niece, Susan (Morris) Clark Lea and her family; the Romagnoli, Levasseur, Nesci, Harding, and Clark families; his wonderful friends, the Warfels; along with his great friends and supporters at the Major Charles A. Ransom Post 186 in Midlothian, VA - Linda and Richard Hahn, Brenda Custer and Randy Lofland where he spent so much of his happy times.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Martha and Sterling Clarke; his brother, Sterling Clarke, Jr. (Eleanor), his wife, Carla Romagnoli Clarke; his son, Shaun Berry Clarke; and his first wife, Ann Nesci-Murty.
Known to his family back home as “Tony”, to Charlotte as Gramps, and pretty much everyone else as “Old Man”, it’s so fitting that he made it to his 90th birthday by some hours. He was born in Lunenburg County, Virginia on January 9, 1936, and spent the first 18 years of his life between the small towns of Victoria and Keysville on his family’s farm, embodying an Eagle Scout, playing and even officiating sports before heading off to college in ROTC at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Transferring to what was then RPI (now VCU) and then on to Syracuse University, he spent the next decade in the United States Air Force. Having met his first wife, Ann in New York, his job took him all over the world but ultimately landed them in Japan where David and John Jr. were born.
With his career in the service behind him, he worked at Chrysler in Syracuse, NY and then moved to Richmond and Midlothian, VA working at industrial companies where the next 5 decades were full of adventure, travel, raising and taking care of his family and lots and lots of sports officiating - mostly umpiring baseball. If he wasn’t on a ball field calling strikes, he was teaching his nieces and nephews how to hit grand slams or throw a mean screw ball. His son could switch hit and throw a perfect out at 2nd from behind the plate, no question. His daughter could fake anyone out with a drop ball on the pitcher’s mound, but he never hesitated to be the first one at her dance recitals in slacks and a tie with flowers in his hand, too. He, Ann, and Carla raised his two oldest boys to be the best gentlemen they are and damn if they didn’t make him proud of all their successes. And Charlotte…man, if you could see the glimmer in his eyes every time that name was spoken, it was just the most special bond to witness. Our Daddy was always happiest at the Ransom 186 American Legion Post for the last 20 years with his friends and proud of all the work they did there and his job as Commander and whatever way he could help them and with the Stew and all the expired snacks he constantly brought home to eat which we kept telling him to throw out. But he still ate them. Carla said he would eat dirt if she put it on a plate. Now he can eat all the desserts he wants forever. He truly was the best! That Post brought him the most joy. Thank you Post 186 and you wonderful people there!!!
He couldn’t have been prouder of his kids and the life he worked so hard for from day one. Having lived through a world war, into a new millennium and another quarter century, he saw it all. Cut from a cloth that just doesn’t exist anymore, his charisma, presence and spirit is deeply, sorely missed. His children are truly devastated by his loss. You can never have your parents long enough.
A Celebration of John's life will be held on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 2:00 pm at Ransom American Legion Post 186. 901 Otterdale Rd., Midlothian, VA 23114.
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