Clara Rose Holmes went to be with her heavenly Father Tuesday, September 13, 2011. Clara Rose was born January 10, 1926 to Sarah and Ira Holmes in Indianapolis, IN.
At the age of 22 months, she contracted polio which resulted in the severe impairment of her extremities. Although Clara Rose struggled with the many physical problems from her disease, she continually rose above it and managed to live a long full life.
She attended James E. Roberts School for the physically handicapped for 8 years and Shortridge High School from 1940 to 1944. She graduated from Butler University in 1948 with a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master of Science Degree in 1955. She also did post graduate work at Eastern Michigan University. Although handicapped herself, Clara Rose taught handicapped children in the fourth grade at the Roberts School from 1948 until 1986, retiring after 38 years.
Clara Rose was a lifelong member of Zion Evangelical United Church of Christ. She was active in the choir, the Evening Guild, the church board, and the Historical Committee. She was also a member of the Alpha Chi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma (honorary society for women educators); Pilot Club of Indianapolis (honorary member); White Cross Guild, Victory Chapter; and The Altenheim Auxiliary. Clara Rose also volunteered for years at The Altenheim. She was the recipient of the Ben Herbster Award in 2005.
Clara Rose was an only child. Her father became disabled when she was only five and died when she was twenty-one. Her mother preceded her in death in 1990. She had no other family to speak of and so went through life making family out of her friends and students.
She leaves behind many people to mourn her passing and celebrate her life including Joann, Ruth, Mary Louise, Carolyn, Jane, Dianne, Milton and Sharon.
We will come together to celebrate her life on two occasions. She will be interred in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, 1977 S. State Rd. 135 Greenwood, IN 46143 on Friday, September 16, 2011 with a service beforehand in the Benjamin Franklin Mausoleum Chapel, at 10:00 A.M. There will be a celebration of Clara Rose''s life on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at 10:00 A.M. at The Altenheim, 3525 E. Hanna Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46237.
Please join us as we send Clara Rose home. She will be greatly missed. Memorial contributions may be made to the Zion Evangelical Church or the March of Dimes.
www.forestlawncemetery-fh.com