Virginia Sarah Clayton

August 10, 1937 - December 13, 2021

CARLSBAD — Virginia Sarah Clayton passed away peacefully on Monday, December 13, 2021 in Carlsbad, CA. She spent her last week surrounded by family and listening to kind words from friends.

Virginia was born Virginia Sarah Proulx in Epping, NH on August 10, 1937. She had a nice childhood shared with her two brothers, Robert and Richard, and her best friend and sister, Nancy. She graduated high school in Exeter, NH in 1955, attended the University of Miami where she studied home economics, then moved to Seattle for her M.A. degree at the University of Washington and became a registered dietician. Starting with Seattle University, she spent her career teaching at various colleges and universities.

It was in Seattle where she met the love of her life, Wilson Albert Clayton, an engineer from Iowa. They wed on December 29, 1959 and had 3 daughters: Sarah and twins Nancy and Susan. In 1972, the family moved to La Habra Heights, CA and Virginia quickly settled into teaching cooking classes at Orange Coast and Cal State Fullerton Colleges. On weekends, the Clayton family would often be seen at their townhome in Big Bear Lake enjoying winters filled with skiing and summers of sailing, swimming and canoeing.

Virginia loved all things creative. She explored all types of food, constantly tried new recipes, and created her own recipes which she shared openly. She created a formal food portfolio of her travels in China and her daughter, Sarah, designed and printed a book of the family’s favorite recipes. She sewed her own clothes (and children’s), enjoyed needlepoint, and never tired of antiques and the stories behind them. She never forgot the history of every food and antique she admired or collected. She rarely forgot anything, actually.

Her deep involvement, and astute participation in this world, gave us all a role model to enjoy and learn from every day. She loved hosting and took care of all branches of family. She believed food was meant to be shared and family came first.

We will remember Virginia for the love and care she gave to all whom she met. She will be greatly missed. She is survived by her husband, Wilson Clayton, her sister and brother (Nancy and Richard), and her three daughters.

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