Barbara B. Clark

Barbara B. ClarkOf Newark ValleyBarbara B. Clark, 70, formerly a long time resident of Groton, NY, passed away peacefully, early Sunday morning, March 30, 2008.Barbara is survived by her loving husband, Arthur K. Clark at home, her daughters and their spouses, Anne Marie Clark and Martin Bancroft of Rochester, Betsy and Arne Feyling, Nichols, her grandchildren, Caroline, Fredrick and William, her sister and brother-in-law, Debora and Alfred Klein, Shushan, NY, her sister-in-law, Mary Roehrich, Pittsburgh, PA and many dear friends.Barbara was born on August 6, 1937 in New York City a daughter of the late Edwin and Esther (Haight) Best. She graduated from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio receiving her degree in Education. Barbara was a strong advocate of early childhood education and worked tirelessly for its advancement. She served as Vice President of the NYS Child Care Assoc., lobbied in Albany for child-care issues and organized day care centers in Groton and at Tompkins Cortland Community College. She served as director of the Day Care Center at TC3 for 23 years and also provided her guidance to the Preble Church and Cortland State Univ. in establishing their day care programs. In addition Barbara served on the Board of Directors for Tompkins County Day Care Council and United Way, Chaired the Groton Board of Zoning Appeals and served as President of the Board of the Groton Nursing Home. Barbara was a former member of the Groton Community Church where she served as a Deacon and on the Board of Trustees. She was currently a member of First Congregational Church, UCC, Newark Valley where she was a member of DORCAS and served as a Deacon. Her family will receive friends on Wednesday from 3-5 pm at the MacPherson Funeral Home, 5 Whig St., Newark Valley. A memorial service will follow there at 5 PM with her Pastor David Heckman officiating. The family will provide flowers and suggests that those who wish kindly consider directing memorials in Barbaras name to Tappan Spaulding Memorial Library Building Fund, PO Box 397, Newark Valley, NY 13811.