Clara
Clara Bell Gurkin
d. February 14, 2018
Clara Bell Gurkin, 99, died Wednesday, February 14, 2018, at Westminster-Canterbury in Lynchburg, Virginia. She was born on Federal Street in 1918. She was predeceased by her parents, Clara Cox Bell and W. J. Davis Bell, and a brother, W. J. Davis Bell, Jr., all of Lynchburg, and his daughter, Louise Couch Atherholt “Snook” of Richmond.
Clara is survived by her daughters Sarah Carter Gurkin Craddock and her husband, Theodore Jack Craddock, and Agnes Archer Gurkin Hunt and her husband, William Edward Hunt, Jr.; her grandchildren include, William Huston Hunt and his wife, Harrison, Sarah Craddock Sorenson and her husband, Rick, John Vaden Hunt and his wife, Sara, Mary Spencer Craddock Scurry and her husband, John Peyre, McCaskey Gurkin Hunt and his wife, Jaime, Agnes Vail Craddock Ragsdale and her husband, Thomas, Davis Bell Hunt and his wife Sarah, and Theodore Henley Jack Craddock and his girlfriend, Teri Seilhan; great-grandchildren include, Sarah Carter Sorenson, Eric John Sorenson, III, Agnes Craddock Sorenson, John Peyre Thomas Scurry, Mary Henley Spencer Scurry, Thomas Smith Ragsdale, Clara Carter Ragsdale, Fleming Kaya Hunt, William MacLeod Hunt, Althea Vail Hunt, John Vaden Hunt, Jr., Joseph Pennington Hunt, Nash St. Clair Hunt, Coulter Cowan Hunt, Harold Carter Hunt, and William Bryant Hunt.
Clara attended Biggers School and graduated from St. Catharine’s in Richmond and RMWC. (1936). She loved her junior year in Boston at Radcliff.
After marrying John Arch Gurkin, Jr., after WWII, she lived in Norfolk for 50 years. In Norfolk she was active in the Jr. League, President of the English Speaking Union, the choir at Ghent Methodist Church, and she enjoyed a long career as the assistanct to Headmaster of Norfolk Academy, James B. Massey. She loved living on the water, swimming every day, playing bridge, and mahjong, and boating and cooking.
Clara returned to Lynchburg in 2000, and loved her time with family and friends. She was active at Court Street Church, and her college RMWC, the Antiquarian Club, Colonial Dames, and Oakwood Garden Club. She also served on the board of the Academy of Music.
Her daughters and eight grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren are grateful to have had the benefit of sharing her fascinating, inspirational life and her wonderful sense of humor. She is remembered as a smart, loving, supportive, funny mother and grandmother.
The family wishes to thank Westminster-Canterbury and its wonderful staff. Our special thanks and deep gratitude go to our dear friend, Ginny Long, for her tender loving care and devotion.
The family will receive friends from 4 until 6 p.m., on Friday, February 16, 2018, at Westminster-Canterbury in the Activities Room on the Terrace Level.
A family memorial service will be held on Friday, February 16, 2018.
Memorials may be made to Westminster-Canterbury Staff Bonus Fund.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family. To send condolences, please visit obituaries.tharpfuneralhome.com.
Clara is survived by her daughters Sarah Carter Gurkin Craddock and her husband, Theodore Jack Craddock, and Agnes Archer Gurkin Hunt and her husband, William Edward Hunt, Jr.; her grandchildren include, William Huston Hunt and his wife, Harrison, Sarah Craddock Sorenson and her husband, Rick, John Vaden Hunt and his wife, Sara, Mary Spencer Craddock Scurry and her husband, John Peyre, McCaskey Gurkin Hunt and his wife, Jaime, Agnes Vail Craddock Ragsdale and her husband, Thomas, Davis Bell Hunt and his wife Sarah, and Theodore Henley Jack Craddock and his girlfriend, Teri Seilhan; great-grandchildren include, Sarah Carter Sorenson, Eric John Sorenson, III, Agnes Craddock Sorenson, John Peyre Thomas Scurry, Mary Henley Spencer Scurry, Thomas Smith Ragsdale, Clara Carter Ragsdale, Fleming Kaya Hunt, William MacLeod Hunt, Althea Vail Hunt, John Vaden Hunt, Jr., Joseph Pennington Hunt, Nash St. Clair Hunt, Coulter Cowan Hunt, Harold Carter Hunt, and William Bryant Hunt.
Clara attended Biggers School and graduated from St. Catharine’s in Richmond and RMWC. (1936). She loved her junior year in Boston at Radcliff.
After marrying John Arch Gurkin, Jr., after WWII, she lived in Norfolk for 50 years. In Norfolk she was active in the Jr. League, President of the English Speaking Union, the choir at Ghent Methodist Church, and she enjoyed a long career as the assistanct to Headmaster of Norfolk Academy, James B. Massey. She loved living on the water, swimming every day, playing bridge, and mahjong, and boating and cooking.
Clara returned to Lynchburg in 2000, and loved her time with family and friends. She was active at Court Street Church, and her college RMWC, the Antiquarian Club, Colonial Dames, and Oakwood Garden Club. She also served on the board of the Academy of Music.
Her daughters and eight grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren are grateful to have had the benefit of sharing her fascinating, inspirational life and her wonderful sense of humor. She is remembered as a smart, loving, supportive, funny mother and grandmother.
The family wishes to thank Westminster-Canterbury and its wonderful staff. Our special thanks and deep gratitude go to our dear friend, Ginny Long, for her tender loving care and devotion.
The family will receive friends from 4 until 6 p.m., on Friday, February 16, 2018, at Westminster-Canterbury in the Activities Room on the Terrace Level.
A family memorial service will be held on Friday, February 16, 2018.
Memorials may be made to Westminster-Canterbury Staff Bonus Fund.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family. To send condolences, please visit obituaries.tharpfuneralhome.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Clara Bell Gurkin, please visit our flower store.
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