Claire M. Becker

Claire M. Becker returned to Heaven on March 13th, 2012.

After celebrating an incredible life of 94 years with her beloved husband, Annapolis graduate, Lt. Col Paul E. Becker, and loves of her life, three sons, Dr. Kip Becker and his wife Kathy, Kenneth, and Randy with his wife, Victoria. She was also blessed to have enjoyed two grandchildren of Kenny’s, Cara and Andy, and Kenny’s extended family, Carolyn and her children, Bow and Kendra and Kendra’s husband, Chris and child, Henry. She was surrounded her entire life by an incredible number of friends.

Her fond childhood memories of ‘Shadow Lawn’ where she spent her childhood years with her father, Doctor Atkins and mother, Lee and best friend, Charl and where destiny would chart her life with the marine corp.

A graduate of Mt. Holyoke and with a masters from Smith, she received her first work teaching at the Palm Beach Private School mentoring young students such as Teddy Kennedy, members of the Ford and Hutton family, prince’s and the elite of America. Following her heart to Pearl Harbor to marry the young Marine, two months later became a survivor of Pearl Harbor on the 7th of December, 1941. With her passion to wait for her husband, she worked for the Air Warning Service for many years with best friend, Sister Cavallo, remaining in Hawaii until Paul returned from the pacific battles. After returning to the states and completing 28 years of Marine Corp service, the Lt Col. and Claire relocated from Camp Lejeune with family to Newark, Delaware where Paul’s second career for the next 20 years began as treasurer of the University of Delaware.

Claire was very active in entertaining and worked with AAUW and various groups supporting education for women for the next 40 years. Traveling around the world many times, Claire and Paul lived a story book life that will never end, and even after Paul’s departure to Heaven in the early 90’s, Claire remained as Matriarch of her McKinnon Clan, the family she so loved and the family that will miss her forever. She is finally reunited with her greatest love.

Service and interment will be at the Naval Academy and will be private. In her memory we request that her undying love be honored with your prayers. We wanted to thank the staff of Dr. Beste’s office and Christiana Hospital for the tremendous care and affection they sheltered her with during her voyage.