Ojai Valley News
May 19, 2004
Obituaries
Clare Beatrice Clark Whitley, 80, died in her sleep in the early morning hours Monday, May 10, 2004 in Ashland, Ore. She is the last surviving child of Ojai pioneer Robert E. "Bob" Clark and Alice Barnett Clark.
She was born Oct. 18, 1923 in the old Bard Hospital in Ventura, shortly after her father was elected sheriff of Ventura County. She was raised in Ojai and in Ventura, attending Holy Cross School. The family moved to Pasadena in 1933 when Bob was appointed U. S. marshal for the district of Southern California.
She graduated from St. Andrew's High School in 1941, from St. Vincent's College of Nursing in 1945, and earned her bachelor's and doctorate in nursing from the University of
California at Los Angeles in 1966.
While a cadet nurse stationed at Hoff General Hospital in Santa Barbara, she met her future husband, World War II veteran, Harold Whitley. As most wounded soldiers were interested to some degree in the student nurses attending them, it was the better part of valor to check their "credentials." Not only was Sgt. Whitley unmarried, he had earned the Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster and had a genius IQ. The rest, as they say, is history.
Mrs. Whitley built her nursing experience through the years and by 1959 was director of the Acacias Nursing Home in Ojai. In 1960, at the time Foster Memorial Hospital was undergoing transformation into Community Memorial Hospital, she was integral to the scene as director of staff education and assistant director of nursing. She helped to develop the Nursing Education Program at Ventura County Junior College and served as clinical instructor in the VN program. After moving to Los Angeles in 1964, she enjoyed a distinguished career in industrial nursing at Times-Mirror.
As one interviewer put it, she was "dignified and gracious in bearing, warm and kindly in manner; she represents the nurse of our hopes." In her extended family as well, she was the "official" consultant for all concerns medical. For those in need of mothering, she was mother; for those in need of housing, she was house mother. Her cupboard was as full as her heart; no one left "Auntie" Clare's home hungry.
After retirement in 1992, Mrs. Whitley moved to Talent, Ore. to be near her children.
She is survived by her children, Richard Whitley and wife Joan; Alice Whitley Nagel and husband Jim; grandchildren Brooke, Quinn, Erik and Michelle; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Whitley; brothers Bob, Bill, Ned, and Chet Clark; and sisters Peg Rose and Betty Brand.
Services were held Monday, May 17, 2004, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church, Ashland, Ore. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church, 987 Hillview Drive, Ashland, OR 97520, or a charity of your choice.
May 19, 2004
Obituaries
Clare Beatrice Clark Whitley, 80, died in her sleep in the early morning hours Monday, May 10, 2004 in Ashland, Ore. She is the last surviving child of Ojai pioneer Robert E. "Bob" Clark and Alice Barnett Clark.
She was born Oct. 18, 1923 in the old Bard Hospital in Ventura, shortly after her father was elected sheriff of Ventura County. She was raised in Ojai and in Ventura, attending Holy Cross School. The family moved to Pasadena in 1933 when Bob was appointed U. S. marshal for the district of Southern California.
She graduated from St. Andrew's High School in 1941, from St. Vincent's College of Nursing in 1945, and earned her bachelor's and doctorate in nursing from the University of
California at Los Angeles in 1966.
While a cadet nurse stationed at Hoff General Hospital in Santa Barbara, she met her future husband, World War II veteran, Harold Whitley. As most wounded soldiers were interested to some degree in the student nurses attending them, it was the better part of valor to check their "credentials." Not only was Sgt. Whitley unmarried, he had earned the Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster and had a genius IQ. The rest, as they say, is history.
Mrs. Whitley built her nursing experience through the years and by 1959 was director of the Acacias Nursing Home in Ojai. In 1960, at the time Foster Memorial Hospital was undergoing transformation into Community Memorial Hospital, she was integral to the scene as director of staff education and assistant director of nursing. She helped to develop the Nursing Education Program at Ventura County Junior College and served as clinical instructor in the VN program. After moving to Los Angeles in 1964, she enjoyed a distinguished career in industrial nursing at Times-Mirror.
As one interviewer put it, she was "dignified and gracious in bearing, warm and kindly in manner; she represents the nurse of our hopes." In her extended family as well, she was the "official" consultant for all concerns medical. For those in need of mothering, she was mother; for those in need of housing, she was house mother. Her cupboard was as full as her heart; no one left "Auntie" Clare's home hungry.
After retirement in 1992, Mrs. Whitley moved to Talent, Ore. to be near her children.
She is survived by her children, Richard Whitley and wife Joan; Alice Whitley Nagel and husband Jim; grandchildren Brooke, Quinn, Erik and Michelle; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Whitley; brothers Bob, Bill, Ned, and Chet Clark; and sisters Peg Rose and Betty Brand.
Services were held Monday, May 17, 2004, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church, Ashland, Ore. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church, 987 Hillview Drive, Ashland, OR 97520, or a charity of your choice.
Ojai Valley News
May 19, 2004
Obituaries
Clare Beatrice Clark Whitley, 80, died in her sleep in the early morning hours Monday, May 10, 2004 in Ashland, Ore. She is the last surviving child of Ojai pioneer Robert E. "Bob" Clark and Alice Barnett Clark.
She was born Oct. 18, 1923 in the old Bard Hospital in Ventura, shortly after her father was elected sheriff of Ventura County. She was raised in Ojai and in Ventura, attending Holy Cross School. The family moved to Pasadena in 1933 when Bob was appointed U. S. marshal for the district of Southern California.
She graduated from St. Andrew's High School in 1941, from St. Vincent's College of Nursing in 1945, and earned her bachelor's and doctorate in nursing from the University of
California at Los Angeles in 1966.
While a cadet nurse stationed at Hoff General Hospital in Santa Barbara, she met her future husband, World War II veteran, Harold Whitley. As most wounded soldiers were interested to some degree in the student nurses attending them, it was the better part of valor to check their "credentials." Not only was Sgt. Whitley unmarried, he had earned the Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster and had a genius IQ. The rest, as they say, is history.
Mrs. Whitley built her nursing experience through the years and by 1959 was director of the Acacias Nursing Home in Ojai. In 1960, at the time Foster Memorial Hospital was undergoing transformation into Community Memorial Hospital, she was integral to the scene as director of staff education and assistant director of nursing. She helped to develop the Nursing Education Program at Ventura County Junior College and served as clinical instructor in the VN program. After moving to Los Angeles in 1964, she enjoyed a distinguished career in industrial nursing at Times-Mirror.
As one interviewer put it, she was "dignified and gracious in bearing, warm and kindly in manner; she represents the nurse of our hopes." In her extended family as well, she was the "official" consultant for all concerns medical. For those in need of mothering, she was mother; for those in need of housing, she was house mother. Her cupboard was as full as her heart; no one left "Auntie" Clare's home hungry.
After retirement in 1992, Mrs. Whitley moved to Talent, Ore. to be near her children.
She is survived by her children, Richard Whitley and wife Joan; Alice Whitley Nagel and husband Jim; grandchildren Brooke, Quinn, Erik and Michelle; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Whitley; brothers Bob, Bill, Ned, and Chet Clark; and sisters Peg Rose and Betty Brand.
Services were held Monday, May 17, 2004, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church, Ashland, Ore. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church, 987 Hillview Drive, Ashland, OR 97520, or a charity of your choice.
May 19, 2004
Obituaries
Clare Beatrice Clark Whitley, 80, died in her sleep in the early morning hours Monday, May 10, 2004 in Ashland, Ore. She is the last surviving child of Ojai pioneer Robert E. "Bob" Clark and Alice Barnett Clark.
She was born Oct. 18, 1923 in the old Bard Hospital in Ventura, shortly after her father was elected sheriff of Ventura County. She was raised in Ojai and in Ventura, attending Holy Cross School. The family moved to Pasadena in 1933 when Bob was appointed U. S. marshal for the district of Southern California.
She graduated from St. Andrew's High School in 1941, from St. Vincent's College of Nursing in 1945, and earned her bachelor's and doctorate in nursing from the University of
California at Los Angeles in 1966.
While a cadet nurse stationed at Hoff General Hospital in Santa Barbara, she met her future husband, World War II veteran, Harold Whitley. As most wounded soldiers were interested to some degree in the student nurses attending them, it was the better part of valor to check their "credentials." Not only was Sgt. Whitley unmarried, he had earned the Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster and had a genius IQ. The rest, as they say, is history.
Mrs. Whitley built her nursing experience through the years and by 1959 was director of the Acacias Nursing Home in Ojai. In 1960, at the time Foster Memorial Hospital was undergoing transformation into Community Memorial Hospital, she was integral to the scene as director of staff education and assistant director of nursing. She helped to develop the Nursing Education Program at Ventura County Junior College and served as clinical instructor in the VN program. After moving to Los Angeles in 1964, she enjoyed a distinguished career in industrial nursing at Times-Mirror.
As one interviewer put it, she was "dignified and gracious in bearing, warm and kindly in manner; she represents the nurse of our hopes." In her extended family as well, she was the "official" consultant for all concerns medical. For those in need of mothering, she was mother; for those in need of housing, she was house mother. Her cupboard was as full as her heart; no one left "Auntie" Clare's home hungry.
After retirement in 1992, Mrs. Whitley moved to Talent, Ore. to be near her children.
She is survived by her children, Richard Whitley and wife Joan; Alice Whitley Nagel and husband Jim; grandchildren Brooke, Quinn, Erik and Michelle; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Whitley; brothers Bob, Bill, Ned, and Chet Clark; and sisters Peg Rose and Betty Brand.
Services were held Monday, May 17, 2004, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church, Ashland, Ore. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church, 987 Hillview Drive, Ashland, OR 97520, or a charity of your choice.
Family Members
Siblings
-
![]()
Robert Emmett Clark Jr
1906–1972
-
![]()
William Pettit Clark
1907–1991
-
![]()
James Edward "Ned" Clark
1909–1970
-
![]()
Alice Catherine "Sweetsie" Clark
1911–1915
-
![]()
George Patrick Clark
1914–1915
-
Chester Barnett "Chet" Clark
1916–1990
-
![]()
Mary Margaret "Peggy" Clark Rose
1918–2000
-
![]()
Elizabeth Ann Clark Brand
1921–2001
-
![]()
Patricia Cecelia Clark
1923–1927
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
