Louise C. Kent (neé Emily Louise Shippey) was born December 13, 1924 in Los Angeles, and died of natural causes in Glendale on March 19, 2021. She was 96.
Louise grew up in the house her father built in South Los Angeles until her family lost their home and business during the Great Depression. They moved in with extended family and she continued to live in Los Angeles until joining her new husband on his various U.S. Navy appointments during WWII. They had two children, Laurence Clarke (Larry) and Susan. The family moved to Lakewood where they lived until her husband’s untimely death in 1954.
Being a single working mother in the 1950s was difficult, so in 1960 the family moved to Vista to be near Louise’s parents. That is where she met the love of her life, Charles Kent, and they married two years later. Charles also had two children, Marcia and Chris, and the family enjoyed taking vacations together.
Charles (Chuck) and Louise moved to Glendale in 1966 where Louise worked as an executive secretary until her retirement in 1994. She served as the secretary to the hospital administrator at Glendale Memorial for 13 years and for 15 years she worked for Glendale Federal Savings, including six years as secretary to the CEO.
Her fondest childhood memories were of camping vacations to national parks and as she grew up, protection of our natural environment became one of her deepest wishes. Louise also loved literature and reading was one of her favorite pastimes. She also enjoyed playing the piano, going to movies and plays, singing and listening to songs from the 1940s, and visiting with friends. In their younger years, she and Chuck enjoyed traveling. The sunsets of Hawaii were some of her favorite memories. In 1984, Chuck and Louise took in their teenage granddaughter, Tasha, and supported her development until she left for college, and long afterward.
Louise was known for her impeccable style, soft voice, and the kindness she extended to everyone she met. She was also quite funny and at times had a wicked sense of humor that will be sorely missed by all.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, her daughter Susan, and her grandson, Kisasi Mance. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Chuck, her son Larry Clarke, two step-daughters, five grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Due to COVID restrictions there will be no organized service. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Louise’s name to the Clean Air Task Force, which is an evidence-based, highly rated charity dedicated to fighting pollution and addressing climate change. https://www.catf.us/
