NEWBERRY — Royce Edward Clark, 80, died Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, at the Hospice of House of Laurens County.

Born on Feb. 2, 1932, in Joanna, he was a son of the late John H. Clark and Effie M. Riddle Clark. He was an Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict and worked as an electrician at McKechnie. Mr. Clark was a member of O’Neal Street United Methodist where he was a member of the Men’s Sunday School Class. He was an avid fisherman, hunter, gardner and loved to play golf and cards. Mr. Clark was a loving husband, father and grandfather whose grandchildren affectionately called him “Papa.”

He is survived by his wife, Mary Ridlehoover Clark; sons, Robert E. Clark of Prosperity and Michael S. Clark of Newberry; daughters, Carolyn (Robert) Dowd and Beverly (Carl) Graddick both of Newberry and Christie (Richard) Kay of Charlotte, N.C.; sisters, Doris Coats of Newberry and Margaret Benner of Connecticut; 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren and faithful canine companions, Belle and Greta.

He was predeceased by grandsons, Kevin and Daniel Graddick and brothers and sisters.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, at O’Neal Street United Methodist Church by the Rev. Richard Goldie and Rev. Shannon Faulkner. Burial will follow in Rosemont Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. at McSwain-Evans Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to O’Neal Street United Methodist Church, 511 O’Neal St., Newberry, SC 29108 or to the Hospice House of Laurens County, 1304 Springdale Drive, Clinton, SC 29325.

Active pallbearers will be R.J. Dowd, Christopher Graddick, Robbie Clark, Hayden Clark, Russell Rowe, Lewis Lee and Freddie Wingard.

Honorary pallbearers will be Elmer Fleming, Bruce Clark, Don Rowe and members of the Men’s Sunday School Class of O’Neal Street United Methodist Church.

The family would like to extend special thanks to the compassionate staff of Newberry County Memorial Hospital, Dr. Thomas Bradberry, Dr. Alan Paysinger, Dr. Mark Davis as well as the staff of the Hospice House of Laurens County and Rev. Richard Goldie.

McSwain-Evans Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.

A memorial message may be written to the family at www.mcswainevans.com.