Pauline D. Clarke-Bales (Ford) of Good Hope, Georgia, died peacefully on Friday, January 30, 2026, at Cambridge Post Acute Care Center in Snellville. She was 94.
Pauline was born in Watertown, Massachusetts on January 15, 1932. She was one of eleven children born to the late James and Anna (Kinney) Ford.
She was the wife of the late J. Frank Bales and Charles Clarke. She was preceded in death by her children, Dana Wingate Clarke, Cheryl Ann Clarke, and Jeffrey Ford Clarke. Pauline was also the sister of the late Ann Marie Goulet, James Ford, Jr., Robert Ford, Claire Butler, Joan Cappelluci, Marion Fulton, and Janet Studley.
She leaves behind her grandchildren, Jennifer Martin (John), Laura Klein (David), and Brittany Clarke-Leazer (David); her great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Aiden, Parker, and Cameron; her siblings, Eileen St. Onge, John ‘Jack’ Ford, both of Waltham, MA, and Eleanor Rooney of Reading, MA; her late husband Frank’s children, Frank, Cartee, Bonnie, Sharlee, and their families; along with many nieces, nephews, and their families.
Even though Pauline wasn’t always near her family, she was always willing to travel to visit them, including many trips between California, Georgia, and Massachusetts. During Pauline and Frank’s life together, they both enjoyed traveling throughout the world. Several of those trips were with family and/or friends making lasting memories. They often travelled abroad, especially to England, building lasting friendships with those who had helped rescue Frank after his plane was downed in England during World War II. Throughout Frank and Pauline’s retirement years, they traveled the United States in their RV, always visiting family and friends along the way. Pauline and Frank resided in California for most of their life together before relocating to Good Hope, GA, allowing them to be closer to their family.
Pauline lived a long and wonderful life. Though she held various roles in her career, the most meaningful were those of wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. In lieu of flowers, consider donating in Pauline’s name to either the Human Society of Walton County, GA or to the American Diabetes Association.
The family honor edPauline’s life at a graveside service at Hill Haven Memory Gardens and Mausoleum, 490 Edmondson Rd, Monroe, GA on Saturday, February 28th at 11:00 am.
Arrangements by Tim Stewart Funeral Home, 670 Tom Brewer Road, Loganville, GA 30052. (770)-466-1544. Please sign the online guest registry at www.stewartfh.com.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Pauline D. Clarke-Bales please visit our Sympathy Store.
Reposted courtesy of Tim Stewart Funeral Home.
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