Alice Wiseman Clarke

Alice Wiseman Clarke, 88 of 1800 Village Circle, passed away on Tuesday, June 16

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at Homestead Village.

Born in Rutherford County, North Carolina on December 11, 1926 she was the daughter of the late Dr. & Mrs. Perry Haynes Wiseman.

Alice is survived by three children, Mary Alice Clarke, Stephen Colahan Clarke and Laura Susanne Kirchner, wife of Stephen T. Kirchner, all of Lancaster and one of the greatest joys of her life, her grandson, Andrew Stephen Kirchner.

Growing up in Rutherford County, North Carolina, she attended High School in Henrietta, North Carolina.  She graduated from Tri-High.  She attended Limestone College, UNC Chapel Hill and graduated from Duke University in 1947.  While at Duke, she was a member of the Alpha Delta Phi sorority.  After college, Alice had fond memories of vacationing at Lake Lure, she traveled to Europe and had the opportunity to meet Pope Pias XII.  Following that, she lived in New York at the Barbizon Hotel while studying at the New York School of Interior Decorating.

Early in her working career, she was a teacher at Tri-High before getting married to Percy “Bud” Colahan Clarke, Jr. with whom she shared 55 years of marriage.  Percy preceded her in death in March 2009.

Alice joined Highland Presbyterian Church in 1959.  She and her husband were very active in the church community.  She was very involved in the Sunday school at Highland.

Alice’s other volunteer opportunities were at the Iris Club, Lancaster Daycare Center, Friends of the Library, the Food Bank of Lancaster, American Cancer Society and Women’s Symphony Association.  She also participated in many volunteer activities with the Kiwanis Club of Lancaster.  Alice and her husband were members of the Hamilton Club of Lancaster where they enjoyed many social gatherings.

Alice loved dogs and studying birds.   She always put her emphasis on nature and all living creatures.  Each year she looked forward to March Madness and her love of Duke and North Carolina basketball.  Some of her fondest memories were spending the summers with her children back in Western North Carolina.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend her memorial service at Highland Presbyterian Church, 500 E. Roseville Road,  Lancaster, PA on Monday, June 22, at 11:00 a.m.  The family will receive friends at the church on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.  Private interment will be at the convenience of the family.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Avondale United Methodist Church, 2596 US 221A Hwy, Henrietta, NC 28076.