Pat Clark, longtime Malibu resident and art teacher, died June 14 after a battle with breast cancer. She was 85.
Clark was born Aug. 9, 1925 in Los Angeles to Howard and Dolly Blanchard. Her father was a World War I Pilot and war ace who became a partner and test pilot for Howard Hughes at the Burbank Airport. He was killed during a test flight when Clark was three years old.
Soon after, Clark moved with her mother, a professional singer and entertainer, and her brother, Howard, to Liverpool, England. She lived there during the early years of World War II and recalled sitting in fear in underground subways during the Blitz, when German V-2 rockets attacked the city. Clark then moved to the countryside before returning to California.
Clark met her future husband, Bob, while he was playing the piano in the cafeteria at Santa Monica City College. They lived in Spain for four years while Bob taught music and traveled throughout Europe before settling down in Malibu. The pair was married for 64 years.
Clark taught art at Lincoln Junior High and Malibu Park Junior High. She was also an accomplished water colorist who painted every day of her life and particularly loved painting roses.
Clark and her husband were avid swimmers and often swam in the ocean in front of their Broad Beach Road home. She also enjoyed body surfing and tennis. The Clarks were well-known members of Pepperdine University’s Crest Club, and they spent many hours in their later years swimming in the Olympic-sized pool.
“Pat was an inspiration to family, friends, the Choir at St. Mathews Church and the entire parish of St. Aidan’s Church,” Barbara Wanbaugh of St. Aidan’s Church wrote. “She will be sorely missed.”
Clark is survived by her husband Bob, her sons Bruce and Paul, her daughters Janet and Carrie, her grandchildren Ellery Clark, Corey O’Rourke, Caitlin Sioux O’Rourke, Lily Daniels and Austin Daniels and the family Rottweiler and guardian Maya.
Memorial services took place last week Sunday.