Louise Paitson Clark, 97, died December 19, 2024.
She was born in Terre Haute on October 21, 1927 to Winifred Johnston Paitson and Edward Paitson, Jr. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Lloyd and Stanley and one grandson, Jonathan Edward Clark.
She is survived by three children, Randall E. Clark and wife Donna, Cedar Crest NM, Sarah Clark and companion Kim Roesler, Austin TX, and Libby Wyrick and husband Jerry, Terre Haute: four granddaughters, Lee Ann Atkinson, Terre Haute, Jessica Clark-Daugherty, Denver CO, Emily Nasser, Terre Haute and Rachel Cornett, Tijeras NM; one grandson, David Wyrick, Indianapolis and ten great grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren.
Louise was a graduate of Western Michigan University with a degree in music education and received a Master’s degree in library science from Indiana State University. She served as the elementary librarian for the ISU Laboratory School, where she initiated Book Character Day to encourage the love of reading in her students, and later developed the Instructional Resource Center in the School of Education at ISU.
Louise was Music Director for the First Unitarian Universalist Congregation for 26 years. She played flute and piccolo in the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra during the fifties and sixties. She was involved in eleven musicals at the Community Theater as rehearsal accompanist, member of the pit orchestra, or music director. She was a member of the Women of Erin Celtic Music Performance Group. She was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, an international music fraternity for professional women musicians, Vigo County Retired Teachers’ Association and the First Unitarian Universalist Congregation.
At Louises’s request, there will be no visitation or services. A family gathering will take place at a later date. If friends desire, contributions may be sent to the First UU Congregation, 1826 S. Fruitridge, the Community Theater of Terre Haute, 25th and Washington or the Terre Haute Symphony, 25 N. 6th.
Fond memories and condolences can be shared with the family at www.mattoxwood.com.
