Lydia Gale Clark

Lydia Gale Clark, Meriden, died unexpectedly from an undiagnosed heart condition, Saturday, October 8, 2011 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, IA. She was born October 6, 1990 in Topeka, KS. She was a member of the Meriden United Methodist Church. Lydia, a junior at Drake University in Des Moines, was studying International Relations and Rhetoric. She had just returned from a semester at St. Petersburg Polytechnic in St. Petersburg, Russia. At Drake she was an active member of the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity and avid intramural sports team member. She was assistant manager at Creative Kids Stuff retail store in Des Moines. She graduated from Jefferson West High School in 2008, where she was an active member of Student Council and a four-year letter winner in track. She also played competitive soccer as a member of Topeka Select Fusion.

Lydia is survived by her parents, Brad and Pamela Clark of Meriden, her brother, Tanner, her grandparents, Richard and Nancy Smith, of Marysville, as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, and circles of friends. She was preceded in death by grandparents, David and Mary Clark, Lindsborg.

The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., Friday, October 14, 2011 at the Meriden United Methodist Church, 100 S. Dawson St., Meriden, KS 66512. A memorial ceremony will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, October 15, 2011 at the church. Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence Ave., Topeka, KS 66608 is assisting the family. Memorial contributions may be made to Drake University in Lydia's memory, 2507 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311.