Virginia Ann Clark

1928 - 2018

Virginia Ann (Leader) Clark, 89, passed away January 24, 2018.

Virginia was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She was an outstanding student and graduated from the University of Michigan with a high honors degree in mathematics in 1950. She was hired by the Atomic Energy Commission to work as a statistics computer in Hanford, Washington. She met and married Welden Clark while they were both working at the Hanford site.

In 1953, Virginia earned acceptance to Harvard University graduate school to study in the emerging field of bio-medical statistics. While a graduate student she worked on the early analysis of the development of birth control pills. Earning her master's degree from Harvard in the late '50s, she continued her studies at the University of California at Los Angeles to earn a PhD in Bio-Medical Statistics. She next accepted an appointment to the faculty at UCLA Medical School, and later became the dean of her department. Virginia wrote, co-authored, and edited numerous textbooks.

In the '60s, both Virginia and Welden became pilots and owned several planes. They flew throughout the country to enhance their careers and to satisfy their passion for the natural world. Virginia was usually the pilot and Welden navigated.

When Virginia and Welden retired in the mid 1980s, they chose Sequim, and proceeded to build their dream home; together they designed and built it. As a team, they did everything from grading, to setting foundations, to plumbing, to building their cabinets and numerous bookshelves. Their home included a wall of windows looking toward Sequim and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. They welcomed many friends and local organizations to their home, and numerous worthwhile projects advanced around their dinner table.

As a world-renowned bio-statistician and former professor from UCLA, Virginia provided important input and played an active part in the Dungeness River Management Team, the Dungeness Clean Water Work Group, WRIA 18, and the Clallam County Streamkeepers. She served for many years as a member of the County Public Health Board.

She and Welden co-authored "The Keys to an Understanding of the Natural History of the Dungeness River System," an excellent dissertation on the geology of the region, human uses, and changes to the Dungeness River during the last 150 years.

Virginia and Welden were a superb working team and they helped plan, develop, and complete many projects. They were honored in 1991 with the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society's Harlequin Award. In 2008, Virginia and Weldon received the Clallam County Community Service Award as local "Heroes" for their many of volunteer contributions.

A celebration of Virginia Ann Clark's life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 8 at Railroad Bridge Park in Sequim.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Virginia's name to the Dungeness River Audubon Center at Railroad Bridge Park.