Funeral service for SFC (Retired) Melvin F. Clark will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday, December 3, 2015 in the Lawton-Fort Sill Veterans Center Auditorium with Mike Shklar, Chaplain, officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens under the direction of the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home. The family will greet friends from 6-8 pm Wednesday at the funeral home. SFC (Retired) Melvin F. Clark, age 73, died Thursday, November 26, 2015 in Lawton. He was born February 14, 1942 in Luther, Oklahoma, to Jesse Ervin and Beda Beatrice Clark. He married Shirley A. "Shorty" Allums on October 19, 1963 in Midwest City, Oklahoma. She preceded him in death on April 15, 2005. He grew up and attended school in Luther until he was drafted into the U.S. Army. His awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 device, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with palm, two Overseas Service Bars, Good Conduct Medal 7th award, Driver and Mechanic Badge with Army service ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Expert Rifle M-16, Presidential Unit Citation and the Meritorious Service Medal. While in the Army he served as a translator and would eventually learn to speak seven languages. He was also an athletic trainer and coached the "Misfits" at Fort Sill. He retired from the Army on August 31, 1984. Following his retirement from the Army he worked for ITT repairing small engines and batteries and later drove a bus for soldiers at Fort Sill. He was a member of First Baptist West, the DAV, the VFW and the Lions Club. He enjoyed sports, fishing and golfing as well as stamp and coin collecting. He was known to be a great encourager to the staff at the Lawton-Fort Sill Veterans Center as well as a jokester. He is survived by his children, A'Lisa Durant and husband Billy and Kelvin D. Clark and wife Sandra G., all of Lawton; four grandchildren, Jennifer Tiernan and husband Michael, Austin Clark, Courtney Clark and Tara Mickles and husband Chris; three great grandchildren, Chase and Maryann Tiernan and Dillon Mickles; three sisters, Frances Irene White, Booneville, Arkansas, and Elizabeth Woodward and Bobbie Jean French and husband Ronnie, all of Shasta Lake, California; an adopted sister, Fern Hatchel; numerous nieces and nephews. His twin brother, Elvin, a brother Jesse, two sisters, Mary Joe Clark and Beatrice Irene Clark, preceded him in death.