Helen Howe Clendenin was born at home in Mansfield, Ill., on Aug. 15, 1930, to Harold and Ruth Howe. She attended a country school until the age of 15. She was then accepted to University High School, an extension of the University in Champagne, Ill. This is one of Helen’s most cherished memories. Another fond memory is riding her horse, Daisy, to the country school.
After graduating, she visited a cousin in California and decided to go to Occidental College in Pasadena. She married and had her first daughter, Rowena. Her two sons, Joel and Jeremy, followed in quick succession.
The family moved to San Diego County. Helen was on her own again 10 years later. She pursued getting her degree in elementary education at Cal Western. She was soon commuting to her first teaching assignment. She loved her work, later getting her master’s degree as a reading specialist. She began an innovative program using “at risk” high school students to help tutor younger children with reading problems. The program was a success for all concerned.
In 1983, she met Tom Clendenin. They were married in 1984 by a chaplain in Hong Kong. They worked together for an American-based publisher of textbooks in Asia and the Pacific Islands. Soon she became the regional director for the Asia Pacific Division of Harcourt Brace. They loved the work and the people they met. Helen and Tom had a flat in Hong Kong and an apartment in Saipan, enabling them to quickly travel to different to schools and colleges. Often they were needed on small islands and traversed the waterways on small boats to reach a destination. They often arrived in hurricane season and waited in a plane as an earthquake shook Guam. She retired in 1997 and joined Tom at home on Whidbey Island. Helen loved working in the garden with their golden retriever, Po, by her side. She began volunteer work at Good Cheer. Later serving on the vestry at her Episcopal church, Saint Augustine’s in-the-Woods.
Helen died peacefully in her sleep the morning of March 28, 2011. She is survived by her husband Tom, daughter Rowena, her son Joel and grandchildren, Jordan and Jenna. Jordan is a U.S. Marine serving in Afghanistan. Services will be announced at a later date pending Jordan’s return. Friends may sign an online registry at www.burleyfuneralchapel.com. She will be missed.
