Charity Ellen Kirkpatrick

Charity Kirkpatrick passed away peacefully on January 9, 2024 at the age of 94. She was born on May 8,1929 in Garden City, Kansas to Nellie Gribble Clark and Cleveland Clark. Her first home was a cattle ranch in western Kansas and her early education was at a local country, one-room school where her mother was the teacher. The family moved to the west coast during World War II. Charity graduated high school from the Academy of Our Lady of Peace in San Diego. In 1951 she graduated with honors from the University of California, Berkeley.

In 1954 she married David Kirkpatrick and the family had one child, Kimberly Ellen. The family home was home to many other people during the forty years the family lived on Alegria in Sierra Madre, California. Many delightful parties were held in the home and the gardens.

Charity graduated from USC in 1963 with a Masters in Library Science. She was elected to Phi Kappa Phi, and honored as the outstanding student of her graduating class. She served as President of the Alumni Association of the School of Library Science, was a member of Libraria Sodalitas, and served as a member of the Alumni Board of Trustees of the University of Southern California.

She was a librarian in the Pasadena Public Library system for 17 years, holding many positions from reference librarian to managing the libraries. During that time, she served as the first woman president of The Pasadena Federal Credit Union. Subsequently, she was a librarian on the faculty of Rio Hondo College for 13 years, and after her retirement, was a consultant in library automated projects that included implementing digital card catalogs. She was a member of the Santa Anita Auxiliary of the Children’s Home Society, Assistance League of Arcadia, and the Las Alas Auxiliary.

In 2002, Charity and David moved to Tucson to live with their daughter Kim and son-in-law Chris. Charity continued the tradition of welcoming friends and family into their home as well as giving lovely parties, and hosting fundraisers for Assistance League of Tucson. She joined Assistance League of Tucson in 2001 and was elected to the Board as Recording Secretary.

Charity is survived by her daughter, Kimberly Sparling and son-in-law Chris Sparling of Tucson, Arizona. A brother, Albert Simms, a sister Myra Lupton and brother-in-law Homer Lupton, and a brother David Clark preceded her in death. A sister-in-law, Lillian Clark of Tumwater, Washington, and a niece, Susan Lupton of Clancy, Montanna are among the survivors.

Charity’s warm smile, dignity, and grace will be missed by all who knew and loved her. A private reception will be held by her family members in San Diego, California. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Assistance League of Tucson.