Clark was born to William and Vera Tallman on June 26, 1918 just two months before William died. His mother remarried a couple of years later to Archie Murray.

Clark enlisted in the US Navy on March 27, 1943 and was discharged on December 15, 1945.

Clark grew up in Cheboygan, Michigan though he died in Defiance, Ohio on June 22, 1993 just a few days short of his 75 birthday. He was buried in Pine Hill Cemetery in Cheboygan.