Clare Aaron Aldrich

1918 - 2006

Clare Aaron Aldrich was born on November 17, 1918 in Topeka, Kansas. He graduated from Georgia Tech at age 20 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, and later earned an M.S. in that field at U. of Michigan. He worked in Washington, D.C. for the Navy designing systems to protect against German submarines. He later fought in the Army's 95th Infantry Division in Europe and received a Bronze Star for his role in capturing the Bridge at Saarlautern. After the war, he returned home and married Alabama gal, Anna Margaret Karter, "Sunshine". He embarked on an engineering career that included working on the Apollo missions in the 1960's, starting a solar energy division at Fairchild in the 1970's, and later working on the space shuttle project in the 1980's. He was a Christian who was always active in church work wherever he lived. He served as a reading tutor to immigrants; he and our mom hosted foreign students and families trying to make a new life in the United States. He also worked with the Republican Party donating his time to many campaigns over the years; he donated his time to Habitat for Humanity; and he supported a local Pro-life ministry, Lifesavers. He willingly devoted his time wherever he was needed. Our father's great love was the outdoors and he spent countless weekends and vacations in the mountains of California, Colorado, Alaska, and Mexico. He took each of his children up Mount Whitney, and on many other hikes. In his later years, he was often found bicycling or walking along the Kern River. He was a devoted and loving father and grandfather giving all he had to those he loved. He is preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Anna Margaret Aldrich, his parents John and Belle Aldrich, and his sister, Jane Marshall. He is survived by his three children, Lynn Aldrich, of Dallas, Pennsylvania, Tom Aldrich and his wife Kate Stirling of Tacoma, Washington, and Nancy Vogel and her husband Keith Vogel of Bakersfield, his three grandsons, Joshua Vogel, Matthew Vogel, and Levi Vogel, his brother Lyman Aldrich and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 29, 2006 at Hillcrest Mortuary chapel at 10:00 am. Clare Aaron Aldrich Nov. 17, 1918 - Apr. 3, 2006 Legacy.com