Clara Elizabeth Lewis Whitlock

1937 - 2022

Clara Elizabeth Lewis Whitlock

November 5, 1937 - April 17, 2022

Clara Elizabeth Lewis Whitlock of Roanoke, Va., passed peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022.

"Bubbe," as she was affectionately known to her grandchildren, is survived by her sons, Jason B. Perdue (Cindy) and Bryan J. Mosher (JoLeigh); grandchildren, Brandon G. Perdue, Trevor C. Perdue (Kayla), and Abigail M. Mosher; sister, Harriett Barnard (Willard); and brother-in-law, Les Blankenship.

Clara was born to James Arthur and Eunice Moore Lewis in 1937 in Amonate, Virginia, and spent her early years in Tazewell County. In 1945, the family moved to Roanoke County where her parents felt she and her sisters would get a better education.

Clara graduated from Hollins College with a degree in dance and embarked on a career in public education. She taught at Southview and Mountain View Elementary Schools, Monroe Junior High School, and William Fleming High School. She was a pioneer in the field of special education, teaching special needs children before there were state and federal guidelines.

Her love of dance and music remained constant throughout her life and was a great source of happiness. Friends and family remember her many performances as a soprano soloist, a musician with the Roanoke Symphony, and a dancer in both Showtimer's and Hollins College productions, just to name a few.

In 1978, Clara followed her mother, Eunice Sprinkle, into federal service as the official court reporter for the Honorable James C. Turk, Western District of Virginia. Over the next 30 years, she traveled with Judge Turk throughout Western Virginia, leaving an indelible mark on all those she encountered. Clara and Judge Turk were avid devotees to the crossword puzzles in local newspapers, and if you visited Judge Turk's chambers, you were often asked for a six-letter word for something. If you were fortunate, you might have been given a letter or two as a clue!

Clara dearly loved her career and her Court Family, but her grandchildren, Brandon, Trevor, and Abby, were her pride and joy! "Bubbe" made it her mission to teach her grandchildren about the wonders of the ancient and modern worlds; the power of words; and the majesty of music and the arts. She regularly took them to The Smithsonian in Washington D.C.; to storytelling conventions in Virginia and Tennessee; and to Civil War battlefields where her ancestors fought.

"Bubbe" traveled extensively throughout the world, and she delighted in bringing treasures home to share with her family and friends. Egyptian artifacts, cultural masks, tapestries, spears, jewelry, and costumes were all displayed lovingly in her home.

For many of you who knew Clara well, it will not surprise you that she proudly donated her body to the Virginia State Anatomical Program for the training of future medical practitioners.

A celebration of Clara's life will be held on Sunday, May 22, 2022, from 3 until 6 p.m. at Oakey's North Chapel, 6732 Peter's Creek Road, Roanoke, VA 24019. Clara loved the spoken word, and we'll celebrate her life through the telling of stories. So, be thinking of your favorite Clara or "Bubbe" story and hone your storytelling skills, for you will most assuredly be asked to share! Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.oakeys.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Oakey's North Chapel, Roanoke, Va., (540) 362-1237.