Carol H. Clarke

Carol H. Clarke, 82 of Frenchtown, NJ, passed away on Monday, March 4, 2024 at her home.

Born December 3, 1941 in Allentown, PA, Carol graduated from Bethlehem High School and obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Moravian College. After travelling and living in Europe for a few years she settled and raised her children in Bethlehem, PA. She later married her beloved husband John and moved to Frenchtown, NJ, where she lived for 32 years.

In her early career she was founder and director of the Lehigh Valley Pretrial Services and served on the National Board of Pretrial Services as treasurer. During this time she also pursued her musical interests, releasing several albums of Celtic harp music as Carol Thompson. After retiring from full time work in her mid-50’s, she expanded her musical career and went on record more than 6 solo albums. She performed both in the US and internationally, including at Lincoln Center with the Chieftains and on a Grammy-winning album with Paul Winter. She taught harp at the Augusta Heritage Festival for many years, was greatly admired by the folk harp community, and beloved by her many harp students.

In addition to her careers in the judicial system and music, she lived a full life pursuing her love of travelling, cooking, knitting, homesteading, camping, and jet-skiing. She was very active in the Bethlehem community in the 1970s and 1980s as a co-founder of the LEPOCO Peace Center, a supporter of programs and projects that uplift people in need, and a member of the Moravian College Collegium Musicum for over 30 years. Amid all of this, she still found time to be a phenomenal wife, mother, grandmother, and friend.

Daughter of the late William F. Horscroft, Jr. and Ruth (Finkle) Horscroft, Carol is survived by her husband of 31 years John Clarke, her two daughters Emily Childs and her husband Ken of Bedminster, NJ, and Jessica Thompson and her husband Scot Walker of Wellsboro, PA, sister Sara Kurtz and her husband Leo of Bethlehem, PA, and her two grandchildren Philip and Kristen. She was predeceased by her brother William F. Horscroft, III and her beloved bird, Floyd.

Arrangements are under the care of the Johnson-Walton Funeral Home, 24 Church Road, Milford, NJ.

Condolences

From: Meredith Higgins
My sincere condolences to Carol’s family. I have missed seeing her these past months during her illness and am very saddened to hear of her passing. A very interesting and talented woman. Our Wednesday knitting group is not the same without her. Sincerely, Meredith Higgins

From: Anneke Keizer
I will miss you so much. You will always be in my heart Carol. What a great friend you were to me. Love Anneke

From: Paul and Judy Glattstein
The angels have a new harpist to play with them. So many good memories we shared in the past, and now we will be unable to make new ones.

From: Walt and Sherry MacNicoll
How sad we are at the loss of such a talented person and beloved wife! Although life goes on, it will never be the same without you.

From: Caroline
Working in town for the past few years, Carol quickly became one of my favorite customers. She always had a smile on her face, and made time to see how I was doing and have a genuine conversation. I’m going to miss seeing her around town. I’m deeply sorry to all of her family and close friends for their loss, she was wonderful.

From: Barbara Duhl-Emswiler
I'm so sorry to hear of Carol's passing. She was one of my first harp teachers on the Celtic harp, and her teaching and her own music were so helpful and inspirational to me. She will be missed.

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