Funeral services for Clarica Wall, 87, of Purcell were held at 2 p.m. Friday, November 22, 2024 at the Wilson-Little Funeral Home Chapel. Interment followed at Hillside Cemetery in Purcell under the direction of the Wilson-Little Funeral Home of Purcell.
Mrs. Wall passed away Saturday, November 16, 2024.
Clarica Juan Barber was born October 19, 1937 in Guthrie, Okla., the baby of three children born to Charles H. Barber and Clara (Bay) Barber. She was raised in Guthrie and attended school there, graduating with the Blue Jay Class of 1955.
Clarica then attended Oklahoma State University where she studied accounting. By chance, she met a young serviceman named Ralph Orel Wall. He had just returned from overseas, when his sister introduced them at a Halloween Party, and the rest as they say is history. Ralph and Clarica were married on May 9, 1964 in Guthrie, and they made their home in Purcell.
Clarica worked mainly as an Office Manager throughout the years. She worked for the First National Management Corporation that managed the First National Bank building in Oklahoma City, for Robert Hefner Oil & Mining Corporation, and helped set up office work with construction crews to oversee the installation of the first cable tv franchise for the City of Purcell.
Clarica later was hired by Tom Daxton, the Director of Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector Agency. While she was there, she worked alongside other directors on a new program to get all counties on digital beginning in Tulsa and Oklahoma counties. This was the first time ever!
She also was the accountant and bookkeeper for Wall Construction Inc. and was a part-time model. Lastly, she worked for the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board as Office Manager and Budget Analyst where she helped implement working with OETA Channel 13 to hold parole hearings on closed circuit TVs. She retired after more than 20 years of dedicated service.
Ralph and Clarica’s love story was one for the ages. For more than 60 years, they were inseparable. Side by side, they traveled the world, and experienced much together. They were the perfect couple. Although they had no children of their own, they were known statewide as Uncle Ralph and Aunt Clarica. They loved and nurtured hundreds of children, always greeting them by name with a warm hug, a smile and of course a quarter.
Clarica was a woman of great faith and a longtime member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Purcell. Clarica served the church in many capacities throughout the years, on several committees and advisory boards. She served as Assistant Chair for the Administration Board and as the Worship Chairman for several years where she coordinated worship for the service alongside the Pastor. Clarica and Ralph also served as youth directors for several years. She was a Rotary Cook, sang in the Choir and served as a Trustee.
Clarica was a lifetime member of the OSU Alumni Association, an avid supporter of the OSU Foundation and the Spears School of Business, as well as a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She was a beautiful woman and a dear friend to all who were fortunate to know and love her. She will be dearly missed!
She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles H. and Clara Barber and her siblings, Elveta Schaub and Charles E. Barber.
Clarica is survived by her beloved Ralph of the home; nieces, Leaunna Maxson and husband, Richard, of Edmond and Carole Matthews of Houston; nephews, Robert Schaub of Mt. Nemo, WV, Jeff Edge and wife, Kristie, of Woodlands, Texas, and Mike Edge and wife, Amy, of Castle Rock, Colo.; seven great-nieces and nephews; three great-great nieces and nephews and her church family and a community who loved her dearly.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Online condolences may be made at www.wilsonlittle.com.