Barbara K. Clark
Barbara K. Clark has peacefully passed with declining health and the addition of COVID-19 on August 1, 2020! Barbara was born in Glendale, CA on July 25,1927 to Victor L. and Mildred M. Klee. Raised in Los Altos with older brother Vic “Ticko” and younger brother Steve until the family moved to Guadalajara, Mexico, in her Freshman year of High School.
Her father wanted to move to Mexico to avoid income taxes. They lived in Mexico for two years until her mother decided “We’re moving back to California”! Driving up and down California seeing where they might want to live, they decided on Santa Barbara in 1943. Barbara started her Junior year at Santa Barbara High School. Her mother was a close friend of F.D.R. , the President of the United States, and actually had dinner at the White House a couple of times. She did not think much of it at the time. After graduating in 1945 she attended UCSB, when it was located on the Riviera above the Mission. After two years she transferred to the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO. It is there that she met her future husband Clarence S. “Pete” Clark. She received a B.A. Degree in English with a Minor in Art ! They married on August 27, 1949 in Santa Barbara and moved to Chadron Nebraska where Pete was an assistant football and baseball coach at Nebraska State College. In 1951 they moved to Minneapolis, MN as Pete started with the FBI, as a Special Agent and they started their family. Over the next six years they also lived in Rapid City, SD, Milwaukee and Racine, WI. After all the moves Barbara , as her mother did , wanted to move back to California. Moving to Reseda in 1957, she had three children under five to care for and Pete started working for Atomics International as an Investigator.
During the four years there , friends introduced the Clarks to camping, boating and water skiing, which quickly became the family’s favorite recreations. The three Clark youngsters began to save up wonderful memories to last a lifetime! She is survived by sons Michael K Clark (Linda), Scott B. Clark (Claudia) and daughter Teryl K. Ferren (Jim). Her six grandchildren are Aaron, Alfred, Kristin, Linsie (EJ), Bryan(Colleen) and Clint(Stacy). She also leaves seven great-grandchildren with the youngest named after “Grammy”, Graham. She also leaves nephews Victor and Morgan, nieces Eileen, Babs, Lisette, and Heidi. She’s predeceased by husband Pete and brothers Victor and Steve. Nephew Lynn and niece Wendy.
In 1961 the family moved to her father’s home (3030 Samarkand Dr.), as her mother passed away in 1959 and he was living alone. The children started school at Adams Elementary School. Barbara was very active with the PTA and church. The family was very active camping at Lake Nacimiento through 1974, when the children went away to college and Pete and Barbara moved to Santa Ana. Barbara worked seasonally for H&R Block. After Pete retired from Northrop Corp. in 1983 they moved back to Santa Barbara to enjoy retirement!
The happiest times of their retirement years were those spent on campouts with many special friends in the Elks Caravanners RV group. She was always very active doing yard work, playing Bridge with close friends and being a great Grammy to her grandchildren, who she loved so much! She was a wonderful Lady who cared so much for others, she would always be there for you, in such a loving way, like nobody else! She was very proud to renew her driver’s license at the age of 88 years old. Thanks to Paradise Valley Care in Atascadero, with a hug for Carola as she gave special care to Barbara. Also wanted to thank Jerry, her gardener, for the many years of care he gave Barbara’s yard. He was very special to her! Due to COVID-19 there will only be a family ceremony. Please, donations to your favorite charity. May God Bless!