Obituary

Elbert Warren Clark IV, D.D.S., M.S.

Born November 6, 1927 Good Samaritan Hospital, Los Angeles, California
Died November 7, 2019 Torrance, California

Elbert was born to Elbert W. Clark III and Elizabeth Quimby Clark on November 6, 1927.  4 years later the family moved to Laguna Beach California. The family gained a beautiful little girl, Betsy.

Elbert loved Laguna Beach. He played Wild West near his home in South Laguna.  He always played Doc Holiday, the cowboy dentist.  He went to Elementary School, Junior High School, and High School in Laguna. He attended Orange Coast College for a short time.  After that he attended CAL in San Francisco, and received his D.D.S. Degree.

Near that time he met Martha Jean Bender. They married, and moved to Newport area, then Laguna Beach. Elbert set up a private dentistry office on Ocean in Laguna. He also did some work at South Coast Medical Center. He then took a position at Orange County Medical Center.  While there he earned his Master’s degree and became an Oral and Maxio-facial Surgeon.

At that time, he set up a surgery method with another doctor that has become Outpatient surgery around the world.  He took no credit for the system. He continued working at Orange County Medical Center, as well as Loma Linda University Hospital, and White Memorial.

He retired in 1978, and was promptly bitten by a   brown recluse spider.  He spent several years recovering from the spider bite, and did not return to work.   They survived a house fire, and rebuilt to stay on TOP of the WORLD.

They moved to Laguna Woods, and enjoyed many years studying the Bible, Schizophrenia, and herbal remedies.

When both Bert and Jean became unable to remain at Laguna Woods, they moved to Torrance, to live at their daughter Heather’s home.  Jean died July 20, 2018 from Breast Cancer.  Shortly after that Bert broke his hip trying to get into bed.  After that Bert lived at a Board and Care home, cared for by several very loving caregivers and hospice nurses.  He passed away November 7, 2019.

Elbert is survived by his sister Betsy Chrisman, his daughter Heather Baker, his son Elbert W. Clark V, and his granddaughters, Jasmine and Ginger Baker.