Pat Clark This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. www.rappahannockconcerts.org

   www.rappahannockconcerts.org/a - [Cached]

   Published on: 6/4/2008   Last Visited: 6/4/2008

   Pat Clark (Essex)

2. 2. BOARD MEMBERS

   www.rappahannock-concerts.org/ - [Cached]

   Published on: 1/1/2007   Last Visited: 12/3/2007

   Pat Clark (Essex)

3. 3. Rushville Republican

   www.rushvillerepublican.com/st - [Cached]

   Published on: 6/1/2004   Last Visited: 6/1/2004

   Pat Clark's family celebrated with her Tuesday as she retired as manager of the Rushville Commons Apartments. Pictured are (front row, left to right) daughter-in-law Pam Clark, Pat Clark, granddaughter Elisha Clark, (back ro
   ...
   When Pat Clark took her husband Eli's dare 25 years ago to apply for a job, she never thought about staying at that job for 25 years. She had seen an ad in the newspaper for a part-time job as manager of the then-new Rushville Commons Apartments on the city's north side. Her husband, now deceased, told her to take the job because it "would pay for my hobby and habit expenses," she recalled.
   
   She started May 15, 1979.
   
   "The 25 years have gone by fairly fast sometimes, but at times slow," she said. "It's been a barrel of fun, a barrel of fun. The residents have been good to me. It's more of a family."
   
   She reflected on all the activities there have been in the community room, from bingo and cards to big Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners with all the trimmings. The management company funded gifts for everybody in the complex. Sometimes she or a resident who had been used to cooking for a large family would get in the mood to cook a big kettle of soup just for the fun of it.
   
   Outside the windows of the community room, residents have been entertained by visiting deer, wild turkey, cats, ducks, and other birds. "We've got our own menagerie," Clark said.
   ...
   "Over the years I couldn't have done without my maintenance guys," Clark said.
   
   She was employed by Wallick Properties of Columbus, Ohio, a management company.
   
   "It has been a good company to work for," she said.
   
   Her duties have included processing applications and running credit checks.
   
   "It seems like the paperwork has quadrupled," Clark said.
   
   In the past, she did housekeeping and had a garden. She usually organized the monthly birthday suppers and occasionally "chased off" door-to-door salesmen and politicians.
   
   One time she almost had to deliver a baby, and on three separate occasions she's had to deal with finding residents who had died in their apartments.
   
   "Death is part of life. If you don't know that, you're in trouble," she said.
   
   She has crocheted rings for resident to hang on their doors each morning to let her know they're up and about. "Most of them use them. The neighbors help, too. They know each other's habits," she said.
   
   She praised the local police and fire departments and EMTs for their quick and helpful responses in times of need.
   
   Clark plans to continue living in her apartment in the Commons, where she moved in 1998. She intends to crochet and make quilts.
   
   "All my kids have enough afghans and quilts to last a lifetime and beyond," she said.
   
   She wants to spend more time reading and prefers inspirational materials like her Bible. She also wants to do a little traveling.
   
   "I enjoy Southern gospel music and will probably go to concerts more," she said.
   
   She wants to return to Gatlinburg, Tenn., and has been to Vermont and Branson, Mo.
   
   She'll also spend time watching her large collection of Bill and Gloria Gaither videos.
   
   "There's such little on television for me to watch," Clark said.
   
   She has attended a few Gaither concerts and got to meet Jake Hess; she saw Howard and Vestal Goodman and talked to Guy Penrod.
   
   Clark has three sons, three daughters-in-law, three grandsons, and three granddaughters.