Florence “Flo” Clark, 96, of San Diego, California, passed away Monday, August 7, 2023. She was born in Mechanicsville, Iowa on April 5, 1927, the youngest of seven children to Guy and Agnes Gleason. Flo graduated from Mechanicsville High School in 1944 and immediately began working as an inventory clerk at LaPlant Choate in Iowa during WWII.
She married Billy Ray Burnett (a Merchant Marine and salesman) in June 1946. The newlyweds soon moved west to Tacoma, Washington where their three children were born: Michael Ray in 1949, Cathy Marie in 1952, and Lori Kay in 1956. Before the children were born, Flo worked as a recordkeeper and office administrator. When Bill began working for a finance company, the couple accepted a job transfer to San Diego in 1958, where Flo remained for the rest of her life. After almost 32 years of marriage, Bill and Flo divorced in 1978.
As a young girl and throughout her lifetime, Flo loved to sing and play the piano. She sang in school choirs, church choirs, San Diego’s Mothers Singers, and the Masterwork Chorale. Flo even earned a guest spot on the Lawrence Welk show and performed at Carnegie Hall.
Flo was very involved in her children’s schools and activities, always serving on the PTA boards, volunteering at church and school functions, attending the kids’ sporting events, and sharing her musical talents with the community.
In 1979, Florence married George Bernard Clark, and became Florence M. Clark. This is when Flo discovered a love of traveling the world. She and George took several cruises and traveled domestically and internationally. They were happily married until 1986, when George died of cancer. Flo remained a widow for the rest of her life. After George’s death, she continued to go on cruises and travel to numerous countries with girlfriends and travel groups.
Florence lived her last 59 years in the same home in Kensington, passing away there comfortably and surrounded by family. In addition to her three children, she had seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 27, 2023, at Kensington Community Church in San Diego. Attendees are asked to wear some red, as that was Flo’s favorite color. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Wounded Warrior Project or the Kensington Community Church music fund.
Florence will be laid to rest next to her late husband, George, at Ft. Rosecrans Cemetary in San Diego.
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