By Peggy Chandler
The year was 1960. On a July night in Pittsburgh, Pa., Carol Congalton and her friends attended a local community dance. At that same dance, was a baby-faced young man named John Clark. Carol, being the forward person that she is, asked John to dance as a “ladies choice” was announced. And that’s when it all started. It took John until October of 1961 to pop the question, but by this time he was in the Marines stationed at Memphis, Tenn., and had to mail Carol the engagement ring — they were officially engaged.
On January 6, 1962, Carol and John were married at the Church of the Nazarene in Pittsburgh by Carol’s uncle Jack Congalton. As a young married couple, they were stationed in Beaufort and lived in a small apartment on Craven Street. John and Carol eventually left Beaufort, headed north and went on to have four children and very busy lives.
When the time arrived to retire, the Clark’s decided to return to Beaufort to relax and enjoy as they had in their early days. Carol keeps herself busy with her church, church board, youth group, baking, and is always crafting something. John, who at all times is available to help a friend or neighbor, also works part time, watches movies and listens to Doo Wop!
John and Carol’s three children, Sherri, John and Charlene (daughter Lisa Lyman has passed away) and their families surprised them over the Christmas holiday arriving to celebrate their parent’s 50th wedding anniversary. Honoring their parents and grandparents were: Arriving from Ohio — Sherri and Dan Johnston, their children Danny, Caitlin, Ryan and Kyle; from Georgia — John and Laurie Clark with their children Sarah and John; and from Texas — Charlene and John Berner with their children Chelsea, Alex and Bryan.
I have had the pleasure of meeting and being in the company of the entire Clark family over the last few years and I can truly say that they are a wonderful, loving family. John and Carol can be very proud of all they have accomplished in their short 50 years together. May they all live happily ever after.
