William B. Clarke, II

STAUNTON:

William Bill Bryant Clarke, II, 65, husband of Belva Gray (Pullin) Clarke of 318 Sharon Lane, passed away Saturday (May 16, 2009) in the Shenandoah Nursing Home.
Mr. Clarke was born October 13, 1943 in Staunton, a son of the late William Bryant, Sr. and Frances Estline (Swartz) Clarke.
Bill retired as a truck driver from May Brothers Trucking Company with 20 years of service and safe driving. He received the two million mile driving award which he was so proud of and prior to being a truck driver, he worked as an auto mechanic for 15 years. He enjoyed fishing, boating, airplanes of all types, flying his radio controlled airplanes, racing and spending time with his family at Smith Mountain Lake.
Bill was a wonderful storyteller and telling of good stories was something he enjoyed sharing with his family and friends.
Bill raced at Eastside Speedway from 1965 thru 1968 in the Sportsman Class Division, driving car #11 and from 1980 thru 1982, he raced in the Street Stock Division in car #12. He served as President of the Expoland Radio Control Club from 1992 to 1998 and was elected as Leader Member of AMA from 1998 to 2009. He attended the Annex United Methodist Church and was a Veteran of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
Surviving, in addition to his wife of fourteen years are two step-sons, Dana G. Pullin of Waynesboro and Bert A. Shiflett and his wife Melissa of Stuarts Draft; a step-daughter Michelle (Shiflett) Painter and her husband Chris of Stuarts Draft; a sister, Dianna F. Simmons and her husband Kenny of Butner, North Carolina; a half-sister, Cherie C. Boswell and her husband Eric of Fishersville; seven grandchildren, Nicholas Botkin, Josh Pullin, Jared Pullin, Nick Wichael, Andrew Fix, Levi Shiflett and Bradley Painter; two aunts, Amelia Downs of Winchester and Bernice Swartz of Staunton; a great-aunt, Thelma Fadeley of Staunton; numerous nieces and nephews and Bills special puppy dog and friend Sonny.
A celebration of Bills life will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, 2009 in the Coffman Funeral Home Chapel by Pastor Russell L. Heinrich. Burial will follow in Pleasant View Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, May 18, 2009 in the funeral home and other times at his residence.
Active pallbearers will be Mike Dritto, Melvin Simmons, James A. Blackwell, Clarence Forsyth, Nelson Boyer and John Bratton. Honorary pallbearers will be Friends of the Expoland Radio Remote Control Club.
It is suggested that those desiring to make memorial contributions to the Expoland R.C. Club, c/o Gordon Kirby, 204 Hoover Street, Staunton, Va. 24401.
Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory, 230 Frontier Drive in Staunton, is in charge of his arrangements.
Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.coffmanfuneralhome.net.