Marvin Gail Clarke

Marvin Gail Clarke, of Amarillo, age 86, passed away, November 28, 2018. Viewing will be held on December 1st, from 9 am to 7 pm and December 2nd, from 1 pm to 7 pm at Rector Funeral Home Osage Chapel, 2800 S. Osage, Amarillo, TX,79103. The Family will be receiving Friends for a formal visitation Sunday December 2, from 2 pm to 5 pm. A celebration of Marvins life will be held at Destinys Garden, 1134 East Loop, Amarillo, TX, 79118 on Monday, December 3 at 11:00 AM. Marvin was born in Beaver, Oklahoma, August 26, 1932, and a resident of Amarillo since 1944. He graduated Amarillo High School in 1950 and Amarillo College in 1952. He joined the U.S. Air Force and was initially a jet engine instructor. While stationed in England, he was Crew Chief and Assistant Flight Chief in the first USAF squadron of jet bombers, the NAA B-45. Marvin was Honorably Discharged from the USAF as a Staff Sargent with a National Defense Medal as well as a Good Conduct Medal. He married Jennifer Goldsmith while in England. After USAF service, he worked for Convair Aircraft in California. He returned to Amarillo with his family in 1958 and was employed by, and soon operated Moss Automotive. He later started and ran his own shop, Performance Plus Automotive. His specialties were engine tuning, building high performance engines and general auto repair. He closed the business and retired in early 2005. Marvin modestly referred to himself as a "mechanic" but he often displayed considerable technical knowledge and engineering talents. He understood the complexities of combustion, carburetion and fuel injection technologies. His high- performance engines excelled on the streets and circle tracks and established national speed records on drag strips and the Bonneville Salt Flats. His cars were well engineered, as evident in building and driving several innovative race cars during the 1960s and 1970s. These included record setting dragsters, including a twin-six engine dragster and a rear engine V-8 dragster, the "American Revolution". His reputation was nationwide as his cars held various national records certified by the National and American Hot Rod Associations. He also held numerous records at regional drag strips. He was featured in national publications, including Hot Rod Magazine, Super Stock Magazine, National Dragster and Redliner, an American Motors publication. The local press labeled him "Amarillos Drag Wizard". Marvin had the rare combination of being a race car designer/ builder, high performance engine builder/ tuner and driver. He was inducted into the Amarillo Motor Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. After closing Performance Plus Automotive, he was kept busy, until his death, repairing carburetors in his modest home garage for local auto enthusiasts. Marvin was a husband, father, brother, grandfather and great grand-father. He will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by: Wife, Kathy Clarke of Amarillo; three children from his first marriage to Jennifer Goldsmith Clarke, whom include, two Daughter's, Suzette Scott of Amarillo and Julie with Husband Milton Stiles of Amarillo; A Son, Greg with Wife Melissa of Childress, Texas; Brother, Leroy with Wife Linda of Santa Fe, NM.; two Nieces and one Nephew; many grandchildren and great grandchildren, along with many extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harlan and Olive Clarke of Amarillo. His family wishes to thank his friends and customers who patronized his shops for so many years. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Make a Wish Foundation. Funeral Service Destiny's Garden Monday, December 03, 2018 11:00 AM 1134 E Loop 335 S Amarillo, Texas 79118 (806) 517-9425