Clara Francis Mantle

Clara was born August 3rd, 1931 in Burbank California. She was the daughter of Beem and Selma ‘Ole’ Hyden. Clara had a brother, Wayne and a sister, Annette Marie “Reynolds”. Clara grew up at 4609 Vista del Monte in Sherman Oaks California. Clara attended Dickens Street School for 1st through 6th grades, and Van Nuys High School for grades 7 through 12, graduating in June of 1949. Following a year at the Los Angeles Technical School where she studied Clothing and Dress Design, she enlisted in the United States Air Force on September 27, 1950. After completion of Basic Training at Lackland AFB, Texas, she transferred to Francis E. Warren AFB in Wyoming to attend a course in Teletype Maintenance where she met her future husband, Don. Upon completion of that course she stayed on as an instructor. Clara and Don were married on April 2, 1952 in the Francis E. Warren Air force Base Chapel. On June 27, 1952, Clara was Honorably Discharged.

Clara and Don moved to San Bernardino California where they both worked civil service at Norton AFB. Clara’s career spanned 32 years as a Property Manager for the Air Force Special Projects Office, retiring in 1986. After retirement, Clara and Don enjoyed 26 years of traveling in their Airstream R.V. Together (with their two Lhasa Apso’s, Charlotte Anne and Stephanie Joan) they traveled from Saint Johns Newfoundland to the Baja of Mexico and from Coldfoot Alaska to Florida visiting just about every place possible in between. She served as First lady for the San Bernardino and Arizona Airstream clubs and as First lady for Region 11 of the Airstream club.

Knitting and crocheting were her hobby, creating hundreds of baby blankets and caps for baby's at the Children's Hospital.

She is survived by her husband Don and, son Jon both of Peoria Arizona. As well as her granddaughter Courtney Lynn, Raleigh, N.C. and grandson David James, Calimesa CA.

Memorial Service and Internment will be at the National Cemetery, Cave Creek Arizona, at 2 pm on March 25th, 2022.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sunlandmemorial.com for the Mantle family.