Gary E. Clarkson, 84 years, of Oak Ridge, N.J., passed away at his home on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, with his family by his side.
He was born on April 24, 1941, in Kearny, NJ to the late Louise (nee Evans) Clarkson and the late William Clarkson.
Gary proudly served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1964 to 1967.
He married Margaret Service in 1967 and resided in Oak Ridge, N.J. where they raised their two sons.
Gary attended Coyne Institute in Chicago to become an electrician; which he has been for the last 54 years. He served as a Local 102 IBEW electrician; and in 1985 he started his own business, Clarkson Electric, until his retirement in 2016. His son Scott now owns Clarkson Electric.
Gary began flying at an early age. Shortly after obtaining his pilot’s license, he bought a plane and headed off through the Bermuda Triangle on his Honeymoon with wife Margaret in 1967. Fortunately, after surviving that he went on to have two sons, Scott and Darren and a marriage to Margaret for 59 years. His love of aviation was handed down to his sons with Scott building two airplanes, and Darren pursuing a career with the airlines. Gary had a love of all things mechanical, including several classic cars and restoring and maintaining a pre-civil war era farmhouse.
Most of all though, Gary was known for his quick wit and sense of humor. Anyone that knew Gary will have heard some of his sayings and ‘Gary-isms’, many of which will be echoed for generations to come.
He was predeceased by his father William in 1990; his mother Louise in 2011; and his brothers Glen and William Clarkson.
Gary is survived by his beloved wife Margaret; his loving sons, Scott Clarkson and his wife, Stacy, and Darren Clarkson and his wife, Libby; his cherished grandchildren, Ryan, Colby, Wiley, and Cooper; and his dear siblings, Lois, Jim, Rob, Kent, Grant, and Jane.
The family received visitors on Sunday, March 29, 2026, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. with a prayer service at 4:30 p.m. at the Stickle-Soltesz Funeral Home, 187 La Rue Road, Newfoundland, NJ 07435.
Final disposition will be private.
On line condolences and directions: www.sticklesolteszfuneralhome.com.