Winnifred Janet Pike was born in Hagerstown, Maryland on October 13, 1924 to Ira Wiles Pike and Gladys Ione Clipp. Throughout her life there were many changes of address. Her father's job requirements led her to attend four different schools in her Senior year of High School. Living at that time in Colorado Springs, Colorado, she attended Colorado College where she majored in History and enjoyed working in the theater department. She graduated in 1944 with honors and always wore her Phi Beta Kappa key with pride.
Known as Winnie to friends and family, Winnifred married Arno F. Glimn in 1946 and together they changed addresses another 14 times in seven years as Arno completed his education and Winnifred worked in a variety of jobs. The pace of address change slowed after the birth of their two children, Linda, in 1952 and Katherine (Kathy) in 1955 with only seven moves in the next dozen years. By 1961 they had arrived in California and established home base for the next 50 years in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles County.
In spite of two more changes of address - to Massachusetts in 1967 - 1970 and Bogota, Colombia in 1976, they returned to the house in Northridge. Here friends and family members celebrated evenings of good food and conversation, backyard pool parties and holiday festivities. Many beloved pets over the years also made the Texhoma Avenue house home.
Winnifred’s sense of adventure appeared in her love of experimentation with new cuisines and cooking techniques. As a result, her children grew up with more sophisticated palettes than most of their 1960s era classmates. Her Margaritas made with ingredients plucked from the backyard lime tree were legendary.
Being of service to others was core to her sense of being a responsible member of society. While raising her children she was active as a Girl Scout leader and member of the Episcopal Church serving as Sunday school teacher, choir member and member of the altar guild. She and Arno opened up the house as a local polling station during elections. Together they were active in the San Fernando Valley Rose Society. Later in life, she worked with Recording for the Blind in Reseda, California.
Her keen mind and sharp eye were put to use during her twenty year career in the California Title Insurance business. Starting in a night shift position in 1970, she moved up the ranks to be one of the first women Title Officers in the County, and eventually managed a branch office in Oxnard, California.
Finally in retirement she could indulge in travel without a change of address. Winnifred and Arno boarded cruise ships, trains and planes for destinations in North and South America, China, Europe and North Africa. Eventually, Kathy took over as escort and travel buddy. Of the many places she visited, Venezia, Italia remained her favorite; the one she longed to see again and again. Her last adventure was to Cuba in June of 2018.
Winnifred celebrated all forms of creative expression - theatre, opera, art and music - from orchestral to bagpipes to rhythm and blues. She eagerly anticipated the opening of the Los Angeles Music Center in 1967. With season subscriptions to the Philharmonic, theater and dance, she shared this enthusiasm with her children and grandchildren, introducing them to the vast range of human expression.
Winnifred was forward looking, generous, prepared to be engaged and outraged with the events of the day. She was always open and welcoming of new ideas. She was proud to be a feminist and both a "small" and "large" D Democrat.
She was predeceased by her husband Arno, sister Gladys and two brothers, Fred and George Pike. Winnifred is survived by her children Linda (Joe Buehl), Studio City, California and Katherine (Donna Scism), Berkeley, California; her grandchildren, Eric (Melissa Grant) Buehl, Santa Monica, California and Janet (Adam Rowe) Buehl, Los Angeles, California; and her great grandchildren, Ellie and Ethan Buehl. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that a donation be made to one of Winnifred’s favorite causes:
EMILY’s List
The American Civil Liberties Union
Doctors Without Borders
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