Roland Shipley Clark

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Roland Shipley Clark passed through the veil to meet his wife, Jolene, on September 26, 2022, surrounded by his children. He was born February 22, 1939, to Sarah Shipley and Hyrum Winfield Clark. He was the youngest of five children. Roland lived the first six years of his life in Pleasant Grove in the home built by his great grandfather, George Sheffer Clark. Then his family moved to Provo, where he grew up and attended Brigham Young High School and later Brigham Young University for both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.

Roland was a gifted jazz pianist and enjoyed playing in dance bands, including one summer at Yellowstone Park. He enjoyed sharing his musical talent throughout his life. His children have fond memories of him playing The Boogie Woogie, Blue Moon, Sentimental Journey, Ain’t Misbehavin’, and other beloved songs.

After high school, Roland served in the Coast Guard reserves. He liked to recount that he was on a Coast Guard Cutter between Hawaii and Alaska when they both became states.

Following his time in the military, Roland served a mission in Germany. At the time there was no missionary training center, so, once he had a handle on the language, he helped several junior companions learn German. This inspired him to become a language teacher. Before returning home from his mission, he spent some time with his brother in Paris so he could study French. This further solidified his love for languages.

Once he returned home from Europe, he attended BYU. After graduating, he taught both German and English for many years. Most of his teaching years were spent at West High School. He often ran into former students who remembered their time in his classroom fondly.

Teaching was Roland’s true calling in life. Not only did he teach school, but he had many opportunities to teach in church callings. While he attended BYU, he taught in the German section of the Language Training Mission. Over the years, he also taught primary, Sunday school, elder’s quorum, and high priests. He also served as a ward missionary with Jolene. One of his favorite callings was teaching church services at the Salt Lake County Jail. Roland was always looking for ways to share his testimony of the restored gospel and did so often through both the spoken and written word.

Roland’s most important and cherished roles were those of husband and father. He married his sweetheart, Jolene Boel, on April 12, 1963. Together they had six wonderful children. Roland had an unconditional love for his children that never wavered. He is survived by five children, twelve grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sweetheart, his oldest son, his oldest grandson, his parents, and his siblings. He is surely having a happy reunion with them now.

Funeral services will be held at noon on Monday, October 3, with a viewing at 10:30 am. Services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 4395 South Albright Dr, Holladay, UT 84124. Interment is at Elysian Burial Gardens.