Clark Donnell Goodrum

Clark Donnell Goodrum, 77 of Albemarle, NC formerly of Cornelius, NC died Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at Tucker Hospice House in Kannapolis, NC. If Clark Goodrum had been given one more day of good health, it's no secret how he would have spent it - gotten up early to bushhog a big field; had a reunion/picnic with all his family and friends where he would give the grandkids rides in the bucket of his TC33 Ford tractor; then driven with Lorene down to the Outer Banks to ride on the beach. Clark was born in northern Mecklenburg County on November 2, 1935, to Horace Willis Goodrum and Sarah Ellis Caldwell Goodrum. Growing up, his entire extended family lived and farmed in a beautiful part of North Mecklenburg County that was covered by Lake Norman when the lake was built in 1963. He and his brother, Thomas, grew up surrounded by their aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends. When he was 15 years old, as a 4-H project, Clark planted 15 water oak trees along Gamble Road in front of the homes of his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Those trees are now 70 feet tall and still stand along what is now Torrence Chapel Road in Cornelius. He loved cars (Ford cars), go carts and tractors -- but he especially loved his family. He married Nancy Ballard in 1957 at Mt. Zion Church in Cornelius and they build a home beside his parents on Gamble Road in 1958. They had three children, Lisa in 1960, Alison in 1964 and Wesley in 1968 and raised them there in the midst of extended family. Clark went to work for Carolina Tractor when he was 16 years old; then worked his way up to Zone Manager for Ford Tractor Company, calling on dealers in the Piedmont area of NC. Several times he was offered further promotions, but that would have meant moving to another state, so he declined in order to keep his family at "home." He retired from the Tractor Division of Ford Motor Company in 1992 after 40 plus years of dedicated service. He enjoyed his work, was very loyal to the company and made many lifetime friends throughout his career. He served in the NC Air National Guard from November, 1953, until January, 1962, and spent one weekend a month on active duty. Clark loved racing long before there was NASCAR, and always pulled for the Ford cars. The best Sunday afternoons were spent in his favorite recliner watching a race. He also loved taking the boat out on Lake Norman . He kept the boat at Holiday Harbor Marina where they made other lifelong friends and all those families would spend weekends on the lake, on "their beach." He married Lorene Sides Goodrum on November 27, 2004, and joined their families together. He and Lorene shared many of the same interests -landscaping and gardening, Ford tractors and cars, traveling to the Outer Banks and spending time with family and friends. Clark grew up in Williamson's Chapel United Methodist Church . He was a long-time and current member of Bethel Presbyterian Church, Cornelius, N.C. He was a member of the American Legion, Post 321 in Huntersville, N.C., the Scottish Rite of the Valley of Charlotte, and he was a Shriner. Clark was a Mason for more than 50 years in the Williams Lodge #0176. He was preceded in death by his parents, Horace Willis Goodrum (1983) and Sarah Ellis Caldwell Goodrum (1997), an infant sister, Barbara Ann, and his wife, Nancy Ballard Goodrum (2003). He is survived by his wife, Lorene Sides Goodrum, of Albemarle; his brother, Thomas Goodrum (Jackie), of Cumming, GA; three children, Lisa Bambach (John), Alison Hendren (Johnnie), Wesley Goodrum (Amy); three step-children, Dean Barbee (Karen), Paula Crisco (Scott), and Todd Barbee (Susanna); Eleven Grandchildren: Emma Grace Goodrum, Mark Bambach, Amy Hendren Shoe (Donnie), Charles Hendren (Julia), Jessica Barbee, Kelsie Barbee, Noah Crisco, Brooks Barbee, Case Barbee, Nastya Barkova, Tanya Rusakovich; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and five great-grandchildren. Funeral Services will be conducted 2:00p.m. Saturday May 18, 2013 at Bethel Presbyterian Church with Dr. Bill Cain officiating. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery. The Family will receive friends Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home. The family would like to thank Dr. Ron Beamon and everyone at the Davidson Clinic for their long-time, excellent care. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Bethel Presbyterian Church, 19920 Bethel Church Rd. Cornelius, NC 28031; The Shriners of Charlotte 604 Doug Mays Place, Charlotte, N.C., or the Tucker Hospice House 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC.28081. Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting the family. Friends may offer condolences to the family at www.raymerfh.com.