Clarence Paul Lenahan

Clarence Paul Lenahan passed away peacefully at the age of 94 at English Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Modesto, CA on Tuesday, November 4, 2014. He was born on August 16, 1920 in Modesto, CA the 4th of 4 children of George and Emma Lenahan. He attended elementary and high school in Ceres, CA. Clarence was very active at Ceres High School where he was a class officer in his freshman and sophomore years and a student body officer during his junior and senior years. Clarence was very active in sports. He played football during his sophomore, junior and senior years and was team captain his senior year. He also played baseball and was an officer of the Letterman’s Club. His classmates said he was an outstanding, honorable, reliable and helpful person with a good sense of humor. Clarence additionally served as business manager of the Cereal yearbook during his senior year. He graduated from Ceres High School in 1938, followed by Modesto Junior College, where he met his future wife, Wilma Carey on a blind date. He continued to be active in sports and school activities at MJC and was elected president of the class of 1940. He and Wilma were married on November 8, 1941 and enjoyed almost 71 years of love together. Clarence served his country overseas in the US Navy during WWII in the Philippine Islands and New Guinea, where he served as a radio technician. While he was overseas, his first son Michael Paul was born and after returning, his second son Robert James was born. When he returned from overseas, he and Wilma (who had been living with her parents in rural Stanislaus County) lived in rural Modesto and were there when Westport Union Elementary School was established. They were both active (Wilma serving as one of the first presidents of the Westport Mother’s Club) for 4 years and then moved to Modesto where they were both involved with John C. Fremont Elementary School, Roosevelt Junior High School and Thomas Downey and Grace Davis High Schools, which were attended by their sons Michael and Robert. Clarence was involved with his sons in the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, where he served as Scoutmaster of Troop 77 for many years. Clarence, Wilma, Michael and Robert went on many camping trips as their summer vacations. They also enjoyed hiking a great deal.

Clarence was employed in the dairy industry for over 40 years; beginning as a lab technician at Milk Producers Assoc which later became College Dairy, then Dari Valley, Berkeley Farms, Albertson’s and Knudsen Dairy, where he worked his way up to manager when he retired. His employees respected him as an outstanding and fair supervisor. Clarence was a member of the Elks Lodge, SIRS (Sons in Retirement) American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Teamster Retirees Chapter (he was a member of the Teamsters Union). He was an active member of the Ceres Methodist Church where he and Wilma were married and where their sons were baptized. He was a member of the executive board and served many times as an usher. He was there when the church disbanded (for financial reasons and loss of membership) and became a member of the Hughson United Methodist Church.

Clarence is survived by his sons Michael of Modesto, Robert (Donna) of Rockville, Maryland and grandchildren Andrew and Erin of Rockville, Maryland. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, his wife Wilma in 2012, his parents George and Emma Lenahan, brothers Roy and Herman Lenahan and his sister Gertrude Rightmier. Clarence was the ultimate humanitarian and consummate giver as friends and family have said and was a warm and caring person, the epitome of a fine husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, uncle and good neighbor. He will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be Thursday, November 13th from 4-8PM. A funeral service will be held Friday, November 14th at 10AM, followed by burial. Both will be held at Lakewood Memorial Park and Funeral Home (Heritage Chapel) 900 Santa Fe Avenue in Hughson, CA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be sent in Clarence’s honor to the Hughson United Methodist Church, 2007 6th Street, Hughson, CA 95326.