Cecile Alice Clark

Obituary for Cecile A. Clark
October 2011

Cecile A Clark, of San Diego, California and more recently Vancouver, Washington, has died at the advanced age of 91. Cecile passed away peacefully  on October 4, 2011 and has gone to join her Lord and Savior, as well as her husband, Llewellyn B. (Barney) Clark and others in her family.

Cecile was born in Millville, Massachusetts on February 4, 1920 to Georges and Lucie Massey, who had emigrated with their older daughters, Georgette and Marcelle, from France. Cecile was raised in a French-speaking home and spoke no English until she began school at the age of 5. Cecile graduated from Rogers High School in Newport, RI in 1937 and from Newport Hospital School for Nurses in 1943, and then joined the Navy as an Ensign in the Navy Nurse Corps. She gave herself whole-heartedly to Jesus on February 19, 1943.

While in the Navy, she met a tall, handsome Chief Petty Officer named Barney Clark, who hailed from the South. It was love at first sight and despite rules against fraternization between officers and enlisted, they married on December 2, 1944. At that time, marriage for women in the Navy Nurse Corps was grounds for immediate discharge, and in order to marry Barney, Cecile had to resign her commission and leave military service.

While Barney was fighting in the Philippines, Cecile gave birth to first daughter Bernadette. The war ended and Barney came home, but chose to continue in the military. They were stationed in the Panama Canal Zone, where at the end of a four year tour, their second child, Denise, was born. The young family moved to San Diego when Barney was assigned to Balboa Naval Hospital, where their son, Malcolm, was born. In 1954, they bought a home in the new subdivision of Allied Gardens.

Cecile returned to employment as a nurse at Sharp Memorial Hospital and rapidly advanced to Head Nurse of the groundbreaking cardiac care unit in the 1960’s. She continued in this position until deciding to return to college and earned a teaching certificate and a Master’s Degree in Education from United States International University in Point Loma, CA. She became employed with the San Diego Unified School District as a French teacher. During this time, Bernadette’s teenage daughter, Yolanda, moved in with Cecile and Barney, and attended the same high school at which Cecile taught.

It was also during this time that Cecile was contacted by a stranger from the past. Her first-born, a son, whom she had given up for adoption, found her. They joyously reunited after 46 years of separation. His name was Ted Barrows, and he lived with Cecile, Barney and Yolanda briefly as they became reacquainted. His untimely death in his early 50s brought grief to the entire family.

Cecile continued in teaching until retirement, when she and Barney opened an antique store called As Time Goes By. Unfortunately, their dream of restoring and selling antiques was cut short two years later when Barney died suddenly of a massive heart attack.

Cecile subsequently sold her home and moved to Vancouver, Washington, where she resided near Denise and her husband, Rod. During this period, Cecile returned to nursing and became a home health aide with Kimberly Health Care. After several years, she accepted the invitation of Bernadette to reside with her in the state of Michigan. When Bernadette moved to Florida, Cecile went with her, living there until she returned to Vancouver with Denise and her husband, Rod, where she slipped quietly into the arms of her Savior on October 4, 2011, surrounded by family and friends.

Cecile’s favorite verses from scripture reflected her love for her Savior and her abiding hope in Him, as well as her lifelong desire to love and help others. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 19:19.

Cecile is survived by her children, Bernadette Van Lenten, Denise Clark Weston and Malcolm Clark, her grandchildren, Yolanda Harris, Michael Van Lenten, Jr, Dallas Clark, Desiree Clark, Andrew Weston and Audrie Weston, and several great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Barney, son Theodore Barrows and granddaughter Alicia Van Lenten.

A gathering in remembrance of Cecile’s life will be held on October 15, 2011 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm, with a eulogy at 4:00 PM, at the residence of Rod and Denise Weston, 7320 NE 144th Avenue, Vancouver Washington, 98682. Her remains will be interred in San Diego, California, next to those of her beloved husband, Barney.