Janet M. (Erb) Clithero, 80, was born April 10, 1929, near LaJunta, Colo., and passed away March 24, 2010, in Longview.
She was the second of three children of Tillman H. and Phebe King Erb. She grew up in Denver, graduating from Denver South High School in 1947. She attended Reed College in Portland, where she met Harold Freiberg. They were married June 25, 1948, and had four children. They later divorced.
She is survived by her husband of 33 years, Raymond L. Clithero; four children and their spouses, Dr. Mark Freiberg of Redmond, Wash., Dr. James D. and Nancy Freiberg of Wausau, Wis., Elizabeth A. and Mike Johnson of Kelso, and Martha J. and Neil Alongi of Vancouver; two stepchildren, Audrey and Mike McTague; nine grandchildren, Maddie, Harrison, Christina, Tracey, Eric, Heather, Jake, Hale and Annie; two great-grandchildren, Annalee and Benjamin; and a brother and sister-in-law, Dr. James B. and Ruth Erb of Richmond, Va.
Janet was preceded in death by her parents and her soulmate/sister, Hilda J. Eichenberger, formerly of Denver.
Janet's passion was music. She started playing the violin at age 5 and went to college on a music scholarship. She was a charter member of the Southwest Washington Symphony, which was formed in 1969. She was assistant concertmaster and/or concertmaster for 35 years. She was a fixture and could always be seen to the immediate left of the director.
Janet was an orchestra teachers' aide at Mark Morris High School, Cascade Middle School, R.A. Long High School and Monticello Middle School for six years, beginning in 1970. During that time she had many private string students, both youngsters and adults, which she taught after school in her home studio. Many of these students progressed to the level where they were accepted into the local youth symphony as well as the Southwest Washington Symphony. The key to her teaching success was her seemingly infinite positive spirit and patience as well as her genuine love for her students.
Janet made a major career change in 1970, when she obtained a half-time library technician job at the Longview Public Library. She continued teaching privately, but in January of 1987 she moved to a full-time library technician job in the Lower Columbia College Library, where she worked until her retirement in February of 1995.
Janet established the Evergreen String Quartet, which held its rehearsals in her home. The quartet played extensively in Southwest Washington for weddings, funerals, hospital events, various church functions and became the core of many pit orchestras in the production of large musicals in the schools' and community theatrical groups.
A celebration of Janet's life will be held at 7 p.m. today at Steele Chapel at Longview Memorial Park & Crematory, 5050 Mount Solo Road with the Rev. Harlan Gilliland officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the SW Washington Symphony, P.O. Box 1011, Longview, WA 98632.
Please sign the guest book at
www.tdn.com/obits
She was the second of three children of Tillman H. and Phebe King Erb. She grew up in Denver, graduating from Denver South High School in 1947. She attended Reed College in Portland, where she met Harold Freiberg. They were married June 25, 1948, and had four children. They later divorced.
She is survived by her husband of 33 years, Raymond L. Clithero; four children and their spouses, Dr. Mark Freiberg of Redmond, Wash., Dr. James D. and Nancy Freiberg of Wausau, Wis., Elizabeth A. and Mike Johnson of Kelso, and Martha J. and Neil Alongi of Vancouver; two stepchildren, Audrey and Mike McTague; nine grandchildren, Maddie, Harrison, Christina, Tracey, Eric, Heather, Jake, Hale and Annie; two great-grandchildren, Annalee and Benjamin; and a brother and sister-in-law, Dr. James B. and Ruth Erb of Richmond, Va.
Janet was preceded in death by her parents and her soulmate/sister, Hilda J. Eichenberger, formerly of Denver.
Janet's passion was music. She started playing the violin at age 5 and went to college on a music scholarship. She was a charter member of the Southwest Washington Symphony, which was formed in 1969. She was assistant concertmaster and/or concertmaster for 35 years. She was a fixture and could always be seen to the immediate left of the director.
Janet was an orchestra teachers' aide at Mark Morris High School, Cascade Middle School, R.A. Long High School and Monticello Middle School for six years, beginning in 1970. During that time she had many private string students, both youngsters and adults, which she taught after school in her home studio. Many of these students progressed to the level where they were accepted into the local youth symphony as well as the Southwest Washington Symphony. The key to her teaching success was her seemingly infinite positive spirit and patience as well as her genuine love for her students.
Janet made a major career change in 1970, when she obtained a half-time library technician job at the Longview Public Library. She continued teaching privately, but in January of 1987 she moved to a full-time library technician job in the Lower Columbia College Library, where she worked until her retirement in February of 1995.
Janet established the Evergreen String Quartet, which held its rehearsals in her home. The quartet played extensively in Southwest Washington for weddings, funerals, hospital events, various church functions and became the core of many pit orchestras in the production of large musicals in the schools' and community theatrical groups.
A celebration of Janet's life will be held at 7 p.m. today at Steele Chapel at Longview Memorial Park & Crematory, 5050 Mount Solo Road with the Rev. Harlan Gilliland officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the SW Washington Symphony, P.O. Box 1011, Longview, WA 98632.
Please sign the guest book at
www.tdn.com/obits
Janet M. (Erb) Clithero, 80, was born April 10, 1929, near LaJunta, Colo., and passed away March 24, 2010, in Longview.
She was the second of three children of Tillman H. and Phebe King Erb. She grew up in Denver, graduating from Denver South High School in 1947. She attended Reed College in Portland, where she met Harold Freiberg. They were married June 25, 1948, and had four children. They later divorced.
She is survived by her husband of 33 years, Raymond L. Clithero; four children and their spouses, Dr. Mark Freiberg of Redmond, Wash., Dr. James D. and Nancy Freiberg of Wausau, Wis., Elizabeth A. and Mike Johnson of Kelso, and Martha J. and Neil Alongi of Vancouver; two stepchildren, Audrey and Mike McTague; nine grandchildren, Maddie, Harrison, Christina, Tracey, Eric, Heather, Jake, Hale and Annie; two great-grandchildren, Annalee and Benjamin; and a brother and sister-in-law, Dr. James B. and Ruth Erb of Richmond, Va.
Janet was preceded in death by her parents and her soulmate/sister, Hilda J. Eichenberger, formerly of Denver.
Janet's passion was music. She started playing the violin at age 5 and went to college on a music scholarship. She was a charter member of the Southwest Washington Symphony, which was formed in 1969. She was assistant concertmaster and/or concertmaster for 35 years. She was a fixture and could always be seen to the immediate left of the director.
Janet was an orchestra teachers' aide at Mark Morris High School, Cascade Middle School, R.A. Long High School and Monticello Middle School for six years, beginning in 1970. During that time she had many private string students, both youngsters and adults, which she taught after school in her home studio. Many of these students progressed to the level where they were accepted into the local youth symphony as well as the Southwest Washington Symphony. The key to her teaching success was her seemingly infinite positive spirit and patience as well as her genuine love for her students.
Janet made a major career change in 1970, when she obtained a half-time library technician job at the Longview Public Library. She continued teaching privately, but in January of 1987 she moved to a full-time library technician job in the Lower Columbia College Library, where she worked until her retirement in February of 1995.
Janet established the Evergreen String Quartet, which held its rehearsals in her home. The quartet played extensively in Southwest Washington for weddings, funerals, hospital events, various church functions and became the core of many pit orchestras in the production of large musicals in the schools' and community theatrical groups.
A celebration of Janet's life will be held at 7 p.m. today at Steele Chapel at Longview Memorial Park & Crematory, 5050 Mount Solo Road with the Rev. Harlan Gilliland officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the SW Washington Symphony, P.O. Box 1011, Longview, WA 98632.
Please sign the guest book at
www.tdn.com/obits
She was the second of three children of Tillman H. and Phebe King Erb. She grew up in Denver, graduating from Denver South High School in 1947. She attended Reed College in Portland, where she met Harold Freiberg. They were married June 25, 1948, and had four children. They later divorced.
She is survived by her husband of 33 years, Raymond L. Clithero; four children and their spouses, Dr. Mark Freiberg of Redmond, Wash., Dr. James D. and Nancy Freiberg of Wausau, Wis., Elizabeth A. and Mike Johnson of Kelso, and Martha J. and Neil Alongi of Vancouver; two stepchildren, Audrey and Mike McTague; nine grandchildren, Maddie, Harrison, Christina, Tracey, Eric, Heather, Jake, Hale and Annie; two great-grandchildren, Annalee and Benjamin; and a brother and sister-in-law, Dr. James B. and Ruth Erb of Richmond, Va.
Janet was preceded in death by her parents and her soulmate/sister, Hilda J. Eichenberger, formerly of Denver.
Janet's passion was music. She started playing the violin at age 5 and went to college on a music scholarship. She was a charter member of the Southwest Washington Symphony, which was formed in 1969. She was assistant concertmaster and/or concertmaster for 35 years. She was a fixture and could always be seen to the immediate left of the director.
Janet was an orchestra teachers' aide at Mark Morris High School, Cascade Middle School, R.A. Long High School and Monticello Middle School for six years, beginning in 1970. During that time she had many private string students, both youngsters and adults, which she taught after school in her home studio. Many of these students progressed to the level where they were accepted into the local youth symphony as well as the Southwest Washington Symphony. The key to her teaching success was her seemingly infinite positive spirit and patience as well as her genuine love for her students.
Janet made a major career change in 1970, when she obtained a half-time library technician job at the Longview Public Library. She continued teaching privately, but in January of 1987 she moved to a full-time library technician job in the Lower Columbia College Library, where she worked until her retirement in February of 1995.
Janet established the Evergreen String Quartet, which held its rehearsals in her home. The quartet played extensively in Southwest Washington for weddings, funerals, hospital events, various church functions and became the core of many pit orchestras in the production of large musicals in the schools' and community theatrical groups.
A celebration of Janet's life will be held at 7 p.m. today at Steele Chapel at Longview Memorial Park & Crematory, 5050 Mount Solo Road with the Rev. Harlan Gilliland officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the SW Washington Symphony, P.O. Box 1011, Longview, WA 98632.
Please sign the guest book at
www.tdn.com/obits
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