Clara Bacon Anderson

Clara B. Anderson died peacefully at Collington Assisted Living Community on August 17, 2015, at the age of 98. Her mother was Clara O. Taylor and her father was Ralph Bacon. She was predeceased by two brothers, Ralph and Clinton, and a sister Ruth. Clara Lived her early years in the District of Columbia. When she was six, Grandmother Bacon took her and Ruth to Philadelphia to live with her mother and Ralph. Her mother died when Clara was nine and the family returned to Maryland. The two girls, Clara and Ruth lived with their grandparents. On the eve of the Great Depression times were difficult. Despite hardship and family separation, Clara persevered. She graduated from Hyattsville High School on June 19, 1935, the day she turned 18. On July 7 she married Frank L. Anderson. A daughter, Margaret May, was born on May 23 the following year. Clara, Frank and daughter Peggy, then six, moved to New York City, Where Frank took a Federal government job. With the war over, the family returned to Washington, where Clara began a long and productive association with Landsburgh's. She honed her skills as a decorator, and she continued retail work at Paul Martin Gifts in Langley Park until she retired at age 75. Clara's home in Riverdale, Maryland, soon became a center for neighborhood activity. As husband Frank pursued law, accountancy, and occasionally politics in Prince Georges County, Clara increasingly participated in civic and public service activities. She joined the Lawyer's Wives of Prince Georges County, serving as Treasurer and President of that organization. She worked for years as a volunteer at Melwood where she helped set up a store for sales of donated good and crafts for the benefit of the children living there. She was active in the auxiliary of the Riverdale Heights Volunteer Fire Department. She worked as a volunteer at Cheltenham Home for Children. Over the years, Clara devoted herself to her family. She took great joy in their accomplishments and provided encouragement and support when needed. She was there when daughter, Peggy graduated from Cornell University in 1958. She was there for the graduations of her three grandchildren: Craig from the University of Virginia; Cathleen from Dartmouth; and Pamela from Cornell. All three went on for advanced degrees. Travel was another of Clara's passions over the years. This was reinforced by having a daughter and son-in-law in the Foreign Service. Clara and Frank made a point of visiting their grandchildren wherever they were residing, including travel to Nicaragua, Portugal, the Dominican Republic, and the United Kingdom. Clara also traveled with friends to Spain, Russia, Canada, and the Caribbean. Visitation will be on August 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Demaine Funeral Home, 520 S. Washington Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. Services will be held at Demaine Funeral Home on August 21 at 11 a.m. to be followed by interment at Fort Lincoln Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Melwood, 5606 Dower House Road, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772. www.demainefuneralhomes.comwww.demainefuneralhomes.com

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