There are some losses that words cannot adequately describe. On Friday, September 18, 2026, Aileene Clark, 91 of Bellevue, went to be with her Lord and Savior. It would be impossible to describe the positive impact she had on the countless lives she touched in her 91 years on Earth.
Aileene was proudly born and raised in Salyersville, KY, on October 30, 1934, to Adam and Lona Smith. She was a proud student who maintained perfect attendance until her senior year of high school. She was the only person in her family to graduate high school.
Aileene came to Ohio with her siblings to find work. While working at Bellevue’s General Electric plant, Aileene met some of her dearest friends. During the workday, on January 12, 1952, Aileene jokingly “called dibs” on the new hire, Wendell Clark. They fell in love and married on November 7, 1953.
Planting their roots in the town of Bellevue was something Aileene was deeply proud of. She often wondered what she could leave behind to thank the community for allowing her and Wendell to build such a wonderful life in this town. Aileene recently stated that the most precious things she had to offer Bellevue were her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Aileene was a faithful steward to every gift God blessed her with. She proudly cared for her family’s home and could be found every early summer morning tending to the most bountiful gardens, year after year. Aileene was a skillful seamstress, the best cook in town, and had her hand in any and every project she could find. But the one thing Aileene loved most of all was her church. Aileene was a proud member of the United Baptist Church, and her life was a true example of how great God’s love can be. Aileene lived her life as a disciple, telling others of God’s grace and the love of Jesus.
Aileene is survived by her children: Glenna (Bill) Powell, Myrna (Jim) Spears, and Bryan (Andra) Clark Sr., all of Bellevue; 6 grandchildren: Amanda (Robert) Johnson, Emily (Aaron) Theis, Megan (Tommy) Eaton, Andrea (Justin) Nystrom, Rebecca (Shane) Cramer, and Bryan “B.J.” (Alexis) Clark Jr; and 14 great grandchildren; beloved siblings, Charles Smith, Shirley Kidd, and Roy (Barb) Smith; and dear sister in laws Laura Poore, Jenny Hermes, and Marlene Clark.
In addition to her husband and parents, Aileen is preceded in death by her siblings Perlie Minix, Christine Salyer, Freddie Smith, Jack Smith, Ellis Smith, and four in infancy; as well as countless loved ones. While our hearts are broken, we find comfort in knowing that she has gone home to be with the Lord and has been reunited with the many loved ones and friends who preceded her in death. We imagine Heaven welcoming her with the familiar faces she had longed to see again, where there is no more sorrow, no more pain, and no more goodbyes.
Funeral services were conducted on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at Foos Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 504 E. McPherson Highway, Clyde. Graveside services were held on Wednesday at York Chapel Cemetery.
