Catherine Clarke Silverthorne

Charlotte - Catherine Clarke Silverthorne, 89, passed away on March 14, 2013 at the Carriage Club Cottage House after a brief hospitalization at Presbyterian Hospital. She was born May 26, 1923, in Thurmont, MD, a daughter of the late Charles Howard and Ambrosia Elizabeth “Mother” Clarke. She was one of thirteen children. On October 3, 1943 she married the only love of her life, the late Earl Aubrey Silverthorne, after only knowing him for 1 week. They were married for 51 beautiful years.

During World War II she worked in a defense plant inspecting piston rings for airplanes. After her marriage she was a housewife. In January of 1964 the family moved to Charlotte, NC. Catherine’s great loves were gardening and flower arranging. She was a member of Sardiswood Garden Club and Ikebana Chapter 49. She was a National Master Flower Show Judge. She was a Life Member of the National Garden Club and the Garden Club of North Carolina, Inc.

Catherine may be best known for her work with the physically and learning challenged children of the Elizabeth, Billingsville, and Oakhurst schools. She helped Charlotte Council of Garden Clubs to manage the early programs at Elizabeth and Billingsville, and she was instrumental in the eventual organization of this effort into a federated junior garden club, Green Jeans, sponsored by Sardiswood. Catherine was a noted designer, winning many awards at a host of shows, and sharing her expertise in programs at local and state levels. A particularly popular program was one on using Madonna-based holiday arrangement techniques. Catherine served as president of Sardiswood twice, was chairman of numerous shows, and the Garden Club of North Carolina calendar committee, and served in a variety of other leadership roles. Even after her stroke 7 years ago, Catherine helped plan a flower show for the residents of the Carriage Club, and continued to help the Sardiswood Garden Club with their annual Christmas greenery fundraiser.

She leaves to cherish her memory, one son, Henry Douglas Silverthorne of Changewater, NJ and one daughter, Karen Austin and husband Ronald of High Point, NC. Surviving grandchildren are: Andrea Leigh Silverthorne, Julie Lynn Silverthorne, Jeremy Shaun Austin, Mark Douglas Silverthorne and his wife Brandi, Aaron Lane Austin and Hallie Ruth Austin. Surviving great-grandchildren are: Kendall Rose Heinen, Joshua Lee Perez, Isabel Shay Perez, Christian Aubrey Silverthorne, Annella Ania King, and Jackson Cole Silverthorne. Catherine is also survived by two brothers, Michael Clarke and his wife Shirley of Littlestown, PA and Paul Clarke and his wife Carolyn of Thurmont, MD; two sisters, Eleanor Polin of Sarasota, FL and Ambrosia “Rose” Goff and her husband Bob of Arcadia, FL; a sister-in-law, Ruth, who lives in Mechanicsburg, PA; as well as many nieces and nephews who loved “Aunt Kate” and looked forward to seeing her each year at the Clarke Family Reunion in Thurmont, MD.

Karen would like to thank the administrators, staff, therapist, nurses, aides and residents of the Carriage Club for the love, kindness, support and friendship they have shown to Catherine and to her over the past 7 years. Thanks also to Presbyterian Palliative Care and Hospice for their care and comfort in her final days.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 17, 2013 at Harry & Bryant Funeral Home, 500 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28207. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Thurmont, MD at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Sardiswood Junior Garden Club Program or the Scholarship Student at CPCC, and should be sent to Sardiswood Garden Club, Mary Helen Smith, Treasurer, 7420 Sherwood Forest Dr., Charlotte, NC 28226; or to the Charlotte Council of Garden Clubs Scholarship at CPCC, it can be mailed to Charlotte Council of Garden Clubs, 1820 East Seventh Street, Charlotte, NC 28204 and noted for scholarship support.