William A. Clarke, Sr

Portsmouth, RI - William A. Bubba Clarke, Sr., 66, of 58 Cedar Avenue, Portsmouth, RI, died Sunday, November 9, 2008 at Newport Hospital, Newport, RI. He was the husband of Jane Mary Sullivan Clarke. Born in Newport, RI on February 10, 1942, he was the son of the late Francis A. and Mary Mello Clarke.Mr. Clarke worked as an operation supervisor at the water pollution control plant for the City of Newport for 27 years, retiring in 1999. He was past executive board member and union Stewart for AFSCME Local 911 American Federated State County Municipal Employees and was also a member of Portsmouth Senior Citizens Center. Mr. Clarke loved the Green Bay Packers, the Boston Bruins and the Providence Bruins. But he loved nothing more than spending time with his grandchildren. Besides his wife of 47, years, he is survived by his children, William A. Clarke, Jr. of Portsmouth, RI, Stephen W. Clarke, Sr. and his wife Jeannette Bedard of Tiverton, RI, Joan M. Viveiros and her husband Richard of Warwick, RI and Stephanie Clarke St. Laurent and her husband David of Tiverton, RI, his brothers Francis Clarke of Newport, RI, Vincent Clarke of Middletown, RI and Thomas Clarke of Rhode Island, his sisters Anna Coleman of Oklahoma, Carol Aguiar of Newport, RI, Mary Bona of Middletown, RI, Barbara Waring of Portsmouth, RI and Stephanie Daniels of South Carolina and Eight grandchildren.He was the brother of the late Kenneth Clarke and good friend of the late John T. Pierce, Sr. His funeral will be held on Friday, November 14, 2008, at 8:30 am from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am in St. Anthonys Church, 2836 East Main Road, Portsmouth. Burial will be in Trinity Cemetery in Portsmouth.Calling hours will be held Thursday, November 13, 2008, from 2-4 and 7-9 in the funeral home. Donations in his memory to Portsmouth Volunteer Fire Dpt. Rescue Wagon Fund, P.O. Box 806, Portsmouth, RI 02871.