Clara King

Harper Clara Mae King, 88, of Harper, formerly of Kerrville, passed away peacefully and comfortably at the home of her daughter, Peggy Pilkenton, on Saturday, December 1, 2007, while surrounded by her family. Clara was an inspiration, a joy and always had a smile and a warm welcome to give. She never met a stranger and never walked away from someone in need. She was the of friends, the of moms. She always had a song in her heart that would pass through her lips expressing her love of life and her fullness of joy. Time has passed through me and become a song. Born on August 8, 1919 in Shawnee, OK, she was the daughter of Robert Clark and Mattie Mae Humphreys Allen. She moved with her family to Prescott, AZ at the age of 3, and then lived in Jerome, AZ until the age of 9. Her family again moved, this time to Huntington Park, CA and later to Chowchilla, Fresno and Madera, CA where she graduated from high school in 1937. She attended Central California Commercial College for one year, becoming a secretary. She worked as a secretary at the Roma Wine Company in Fresno, CA and at the Minter Field Army Air Corp Base in Bakersfield, CA. She then moved back to Fresno and worked at Hammer Field until she enlisted in the Women Marine Corp in March 1944 and attended boot camp at Camp Lejeune, NC. She achieved rank of Corporal and was assigned to El Toro Marine Corp Air Base, where she worked as secretary for the Naval Supply until her honorable discharge in 1946. She moved to Washington, DC and worked for the Department of Commerce for two years and a New York law firm. She reenlisted in the Women Marine Corp Inactive Reserve in 1947 and remained there until 1953.Clara married Edward J. Henderson in 1950 and traveled with him on Federal Power Commission assignments until he took a civilian job in Houston. She and Ed had four children and Clara devoted her time raising them and doing volunteer work at their schools in the health clinic, library, lunch rooms, and PTO as well as church. In 1974, after her husband passed away and the children were grown, she started volunteering at the Houston VA Medical Center, where she continued to volunteer until 1986, having over 5000 hours of her time. She joined the Women Marine Corp Association in 1974 and held offices as secretary, vice president and president of the Texas2 Chapter. She joined Post 77 of the American Legion in 1977 and served as their Historian for 2 years. She helped organize the Catholic War Veterans post in Houston in 1978 and served as Adjunct for 4 years and Commander for 4 more years. She was selected as the Outstanding Catholic War Veteran of the year at their annual convention in 1985. She was active in the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and served 3 times as president of her deanery and secretary of the Diocesan Council. She served as secretary on the board of the Catholic Annual Marathon for NonPublic Schools and served as secretary for the Catholic Clerical Student Fund for 8 years. In 1986, she married Richard Ludwig of Houston, and they moved to Kerrville, where she soon resumed her love of volunteering, now at the Kerrville VA Medical Center. She took time off from volunteering as she cared for Richard at home when he died of Leukemia in 1994.In 1996, she met and married Bill King of Kerrville. He passed away in January of 2007. In July of 2005, Clara moved in with her daughter and soninlaw, Peggy and Joe Pilkenton. She lived with them until the day of her death, gracing them with her love, her joy, her sense of humor and her singing. These qualities are her legacy.Clara was predeceased by her son, Bill Henderson in 1988 and by her two brothers and two sisters over the past many years.She is survived by her children, Bob Henderson of Alva, FL, Ed Henderson of Kerrville, Peggy Pilkenton of Harper and a soninlaw, Joe Pilkenton of Harper a grandson Brett Henderson and his wife, Cara of Houston, TX a granddaughter, Blair Henderson Taylor and husband, Brandon and great granddaughter, Townsley all of Splendora, TX and numerous relatives in California and Arizona.ation will be held at the Kerrville Funeral Home, on Thursday evening, December 6, 2007 from 68PM. Funeral services will be held Friday, December 7, 2007 at 10AM at the Kerrville Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Garden of Memories.In lieu of flowers, Clara would have preferred you make charitable donations to the National Alzheimers Association, the Freeman Fritz Animal Shelter in Kerrville, or to the Dietert Center in Kerrville. Claras family would like to thank Dr. Michael Martin and his team on the Gem Clinic at the Kerrville VA Medical Center, for all their years of love and tender care of our Mom. We would like to thank Patsy Hodges and Mary Amber with Take Five at the Dietert Center for the wonderful times Mom spent with their day program. We would also like to thank The Haven for their care and support while Mom participated in their day program and respite programs and for reaching out to her. We thank Dr William Allen for his caring hands in giving Mom the chance to walk again in February, and the staff of the River Hills Health and Rehab Center for their support in helping us make that happen. We want to thank Vista Care Hospice for their caring and expertise share with Mom and us during her final 3 days. And we especially thank Linda Peete and Tanicka Peete for becoming part of our family at home, helping us and loving Mom as if she were their own. Our lives are forever changed by those who loved our Mom and gave her the chance to love them in return. Their lives are forever changed by loving her.The family invites you to leave a message or memory at www.kerrvillefuneralhome.com by selecting Obituaries. Select Sign Guestbook at the bottom of the individual Memorial.Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Kerrville Funeral Home.

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