Vesta Ryder Clarke, a life-long resident of Hiram, peacefully passed away at home on January 9, 2020 surrounded by her loving family. She was born January 29, 1926 in Hiram and was the daughter of Arthur C. and Doris (Messenger) Ryder. She is a descendant of several of the very early settlers of Hiram and Mantua Townships. Mrs. Clarke attended Hiram School and was graduated from Hiram College in 1947. She also held a Master of Science degree from Indiana University in Educational Counseling and Guidance.
In 1949, she and John B. Groselle were married while both were attending Indiana University. They and their three children resided in Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio and in St. Joseph, Michigan.
Mrs. Clarke worked in the Educational Counseling field at Cleveland College of Western Reserve University in Cleveland prior to the birth of her children. In the late 1970s and early 1980s while living in Hiram she had another career in the field of personnel management.
During the interim years Mrs. Clarke was very active in the American Association of University Women (AAUW) serving on the Board of Directors for many years in various positions both in Columbus, Ohio and in St. Joseph, Michigan. While a member of the Columbus Branch, Mrs. Clarke co-authored the Scholarship Handbook, a Resource Guide for Students and Educators in Franklin County. In recognition of this, she was honored by having a grant presented in her name to the Education Foundation Fund of the National Association of AAUW.
In 1980 while living in Hiram, she was married to Russell H. Salberg, a retired teacher and coach. She was widowed in 1990.
In 1997 she married Keylon W. Clarke whom she had known most of her life as both had grown up in the Hiram community and where they attended all twelve grades of public school and later both attended Hiram College. They shared many common interests as both were students of history. In the 17 years of their marriage they did extensive traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as a number of overseas destinations such as China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South America, Egypt and a number of trips to all the European countries, including Russia.
Mrs. Clarke was a member of the Hiram Christian Church, and she was on the Board of Directors of the Hiram Historical Society for many years. In addition to Portage County Historical Society and the Cape Cod Genealogical Society she was an active member of the Hiram Research Club since 1974.
Survivors are her sons, Jack (Laura) Groselle of Hiram; Bob (Lori) Groselle of Plano Texas; daughter Nancy (John) Crowley of Goshen, New York; step-son, Reverend Fred Clarke of Goldsboro, North Carolina and step-daughter Dr. Katharine (Paul) Hunt of Okemos, Michigan. There are seven grandchildren and four step-grandchildren plus seven great-grandchildren. The grandchildren are John Groselle, Jason (Wife Brenda) Groselle, Beth (Groselle) Hasty (Husband Bill Hasty), Michael (Wife Lacy) Groselle, Geoffrey Groselle, Ryan (Wife Rachel) Crowley, and Kelsey Crowley. The step grandchildren are Logan Pierson, Laurel Hunt, Andrew Clarke, and Dr. Miriam Clarke. The great-grandchildren are Ryder Groselle, Marshall Groselle, Magnus Hasty, Anderson Hasty, Edric Hasty, Arthur Hasty and Ella Crowley.
Visitation was held on Sunday, January 12, 2020, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Mallory-DeHaven-Carlson Funeral Home & Cremation Services 8382 Center St. Garrettsville. Visitation was also held on Monday, January 13, 2020 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at the Hiram Christian Church, 6868 Wakefield Road Hiram, Ohio 44234. A funeral service followed immediately with Rev. Chris McCreight officiating. Burial is at Fairview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Hiram Firefighters Association in Vesta’s honor would be greatly appreciated. Online condolences at www.carlsonfuneralhomes.com
