Russell I Clarke

Russell I. Candyman Clarke, 78, of Mary Street, Newport, RI, died Saturday, November 15, 2008 at his sisters home in Middletown, RI.Born in Jamestown, RI on July 12, 1930, he was the son of the late Isaac Oswald and Genevieve Murphy Clarke.Russell grew up in Newport and worked at the Coca-Cola bottling plant as a young man. He entered the US Navy in 1948 and served for four years, 3 years at sea during the Korean War. After his return from the Navy, he began work at Eppely Labs in Newport. He worked here as a lab technician before retiring after 37 years. Russell may be best known as the Candyman. He was an outgoing personality who walked through Newport, often giving gifts of candy, flowers, and lottery tickets to anyone he met. Several years ago, a lottery ticket he gave to a bartender as a tip, was a $25, 000 winning lottery ticket. He is survived by two sisters Lillian Jean Smith of Middletown, RI , and Phyllis Bowley of Middletown, RI, as well as many nieces and nephews.He is preceded in death by four brothers and three sisters, Charles, Waldorf, Thomas, and Kenneth Clarke, Genevieve Copsey, Beatrice Echola, Florence Clarke; and two nephews, Kenneth and Volney Clarke.His funeral will be held on Tuesday, November 18, at 4:00 pm in Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport. Calling hours will be held Tuesday, November 18 from 2-4pm in the Memorial Funeral Home prior to the funeral service. Burial with military honors will be on Thursday, November 20 at 10:00am in Middletown Cemetery in Middletown Memorial donations may be made to Odyssey Health Care, 100 Quaker Lane, Suite 2, Warwick, RI 02886 or the Robert Potter League For Animals, PO Box 412, Newport, RI 02840.