Older, Clarke K.

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Clarke Kimberly Oler

Clarke Kimberly Oler was born November 14, 1925, in Brightwaters, N.Y., to Wesley and Imogene Oler. He had two brothers Wesley M. and William H. and in Rye his family lived at 275 Boston Post Road. Though his formal education includes graduating Yale University, St. John’s University and Virginia Theological Seminary, his real education was his observations during his career with IBM and his experiences in World War II.

Clarke enlisted and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. As a communications specialist in the Burma campaign and in the civil unrest of post-war China, he learned that the struggle for peace is a continuing universal process.

Clarke married Wendy Salmond December 1, 1951, the nuptials were held in St. James Episcopal Church. The couple would have three children. At the time of his marriage he was working for IBM

He graduated from Yale with a bachelor’s degree in 1949 and from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1956 prior to his ordination that same year in the Diocese of New York. His early ministry included assisting at St. John’s Church, Youngstown, Ohio, before serving from 1962 to 1975 as rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity in New York City.

In 1975 he began work as rector of All Saints, Beverly Hills, serving until 1981 and continuing his education for licensing as a marriage, family, child counselor.

In Pasadena, Oler brought leadership to various parish ministries, including formation of the Covenant program for seekers and new members of All Saints Church. His notable sermon “Children of the Atomic Bomb” was preached August 6, 1995, on the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Oler’s book, God Is in the Darkness: Finding Faith in Troubled Times, was published in 2006. Oler’s son Kim, a composer of theatrical and spiritual music, is also well known to the Pasadena parish community and beyond for his works including “Peace on Earth” and “Blue Green Hills of Earth,” the latter invoking perspectives of Apollo astronauts.

Clarke was an Episcopal priest and psychotherapist with a charming, unconventional approach to faith and healing. Having studied both the religious and the secular, he offers clarity and hope to people of all backgrounds and beliefs.

The Rev. Clarke K. Oler – longtime parish associate of All Saints Church, Pasadena, and a former rector of All Saints, Beverly Hills – died April 6, 2015 at age 89 after several years of declining health. He was predeceased by his wife, Wendy.

Beloved father to Ellen, Kim and John, this generous, compassionate, revered Episcopal priest at Holy Trinity Church in Manhattan and All Saints Pasadena taught us always to believe in our God-given goodness. He was survived by his three grateful children and four grandchildren, and will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him. Published in The New York Times on Apr. 12, 201 –

A celebration of Oler’s life was held on Saturday, June 13, 2015 at All Saints Church, 132 N. Euclid Ave., Pasadena, where he had served from 1981 to 1989 as a parish associate and in various assisting capacities thereafter while in practice as a psychotherapist.

Published in the Episcopal News