Donald "Don" Royce Clark, of Lebanon, passed away Thursday, September 16, at the age of 86.

Born on December 30, 1934, to Roland Elton Clark and Rachel Priscilla (Tapp) Clark, Don was raised in Indianapolis. He attended Arsenal Tech High School until the age of 16. He worked as a bicycle messenger before following in his brother's footsteps with an early enlistment in the Air Force. Don was the chief mechanic for his DC3 and was deployed for 18 months to the Azores.

Following his four years of service, Don returned to Indianapolis and entered into a sheet metal apprenticeship. He met Virginia "Ginger" Lee Carlin on a blind date and the two were married on September 14, 1956. They settled in Whitestown to start their family and grow their business.

As Don became more interested in farming, he left the sheet metal industry to focus his attention on agriculture. Clark Farms led to Clark's Pork Farm, a partnership with his son that was created in 1980 and continued until 2012. Today, Clark Family Farms is a multi-generational farming operation based in Boone County.

Don's hobbies included tractor pulling, RV trips with family, pool and other table games, and puzzles. He was sometimes a quiet man, but often humorous and always warm-hearted. He enjoyed steak tacos and homemade ice cream or chocolate pie on special occasions and would never turn down a plate of biscuits and gravy, which Ginger made for him every day early in their marriage. He lived a full life and will be deeply missed.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brother James "Jim," and loving wife of nearly 65 years. Survivors include siblings Leon (Nancy) Clark of Indianapolis, Dee Kindell of Ohio, William "Bill" (Mary) Clark of Arizona; daughter Pam Clark of Lebanon, son Gene (Crystal) Clark of Whitestown; granddaughter Tiffany (Leo) Clark Leffert of West Lafayette, grandson Andy Clark of Whitestown, grandson Drew Clark of Whitestown; great-grandchildren Holly Leffert, Patrick Clark, Kaiden Joseph, Paige Clark, and Leo Leffert IV due in December; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Friends and family are invited to a graveside service at Lincoln Memory Gardens Chapel to be held Monday, September 20 at 12:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Peyton Manning Children's Hospital, the American Cancer Society, or the charity of your choice. Final care of Don has been entrusted to the Strawmyer & Drury Mortuary, 2400 N. Lebanon Street, Lebanon. You are invited to visit the website where you may sign his online register and leave a personal message www.strawmyerdrury.com.