Clark Dye, 89, Hardware Store Founder, Dies

Clark Dye, whose modest hardware store became the stuff of legend among generations of do-it-yourselfers and home improvement enthusiasts across Southern California, died Tuesday after a stroke. He was 89.

Dye, a Texas native, moved to Santa Ana in 1945 and a year later opened what became one of the best-known and best-stocked hardware stores in the county. Under Dye’s guidance, the small store on Main Street prospered and became one of the largest independently owned retail hardware stores in Southern California.

Dye’s wife, Frances, said her husband’s philosophy of business was to put the customer first and always keep the widest possible selection of tools and housewares--two ideas that helped Dye’s store acquire a reputation as the one to visit when no other store had what was needed.

“He had an astute ability to assess people’s needs and how to treat people nicely,” recalled Don McLaughlin, who, as a representative for California Hardware, a supplier of hardware, sold to Dye for more than 30 years. “He always wanted to stock as much as possible so people could get everything they needed at one time.”

Dye continued to operate the business until 1981, when he sold the store that still bears his name to McLaughlin and the store’s manager, Oliver Marquis.

An avid golfer, Dye was a member of the Santa Ana Country Club. He was also a member of the Al Malaikah Shrine in Los Angeles and the Orange County Shrine Club.

In addition to his wife of 20 years, Dye is survived by his daughter, Lisa Croddy; two grandchildren, Lisa and John Croddy, and two brothers, Eddie and Cecil.

A public service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church, 609 N. Spurgeon St., Santa Ana. The Dye family requests that, in lieu of flowers, mourners make donations to the charity of their choice.