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Posted 2 hours ago
Clark Allen Thompson
Clark passed away suddenly at Belleville General Hospital on September 25, 2026, in his 82nd year. Clark grew up on the family farm West of Frankford, ON with his parents, Vernon and Letty nee McMullen (both deceased), and his three sisters Beverley Gibb (deceased, husband Bill), Carole Whatley (husband Bill – deceased), and Judy Wannamaker (husband Blaine – deceased). Clark was attracted to machines in his youth, especially things that went fast like cars, motorcycles, and snowmobiles. His aptitude for all things mechanical eventually led to him attending trade school to become a machinist. This qualification took him to a job at Stewart-Warner in Belleville, ON as a mill wright. Around this time, he married Janet nee Cooney, and settled in the Stirling, ON area with their first son Ernest. A long labour strike at Stewart-Warner that happened at the same time their second son James was born eventually pushed Clark to leave there to find employment in the bottling room at Corby’s Distilleries in Corbyville, ON. Clark’s ability to figure out problems with complex mechanical systems resulted in him finding great success at Corby’s, filling the role of bottling room maintenance supervisor for many years. Clark, with his wife and two sons, moved to Foxboro, ON during this time, where to help make ends meet Clark opened Foxboro Machine Repair as a side business. It was through that venture that Clark gained a reputation as an honest man who could fix or build pretty much anything. Clark and his family lived in Foxboro for over 15 years, after which they moved to the east end of Belleville to be closer to town. Clark’s employment at Corby’s ended with him having the sad job of supervising the dismantling of the Corbyville facility in 1989 when whisky production was relocated to the Hiram Walker facility in Windsor, ON. After Corby’s, Clark decided to slow things down a bit and found a job working for the maintenance yard of the Hastings County Public School Board. It was around this time that he divorced from his first wife Janet, and later met his second wife Marie Baker. Marie is originally from Wales, which provided Clark an opportunity for yet another change of scenery. They moved to Caerphilly in Southern Wales for several years, where Clark had no problem finding a job that put his skills to use. They eventually returned to Canada and then later divorced. Clark returned to his job at the school board, working there until his official retirement. In his retirement Clark enjoyed fishing, sailing, learning guitar, fixing small engines for friends and family, and spending time with his close friend Elizabeth Gray. He volunteered his time to various groups such as the Belleville Theatre Guild (building props) and the aircraft restoration team at the National Air Force Museum of Canada at CFB Trenton (machining whatever!). In addition to Clark’s two younger sisters, he is survived by his two boys and their families: Ernest and wife Kelly with their two sons Cullen and Conall, and James and wife Anne-Marie with son Patrick and daughter Allison. At Clark’s request there will not be a funeral service. His remains will be interred at Stirling Cemetery with a small group of family and friends. In lieu of flowers or cards, please feel free to make a donation to the Belleville General Hospital Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society. Cremation arrangements entrusted to Steele Funeral Home, Belleville (613-968-2273).