Claire I. Pepe

CLAIRE IRENE PEPE October 31, 1933 – January 24, 2017 Devoted wife, mother, grandmother and aunt, Claire Irene Pepe, 83, of Littleton, CO, passed away on January 24, 2017. Claire is survived by Bob, her husband of 61 years; her children, Adaire (Ken) Blair of Utah, Mark Pepe of California and Andrew Pepe of Colorado; Grandchildren Matt (Whitney) Brady, Paige (Josh) Jorgenson, Eric Blair, Corey Pepe, and Conner Hoban; Three Great Grandchildren, Kaylin and Jackson Brady and Elianna Jorgenson, nieces, nephews and Grand niece and nephew. Claire was born on October 31, 1933 to Ken and Minnie Labdon in Albertson, NY. She moved with her family to Watertown, NY as a young child, where she attended local schools, graduating from Watertown High School in 1952. While at Watertown HS, Claire was Homecoming Queen, President of the January Class of '52, and a Member of the National Honor Society. She was the Drum Majorette for the Watertown High School Band and, with the help of other members, designed the drills that the band performed. She met Bob during his senior year where they both participated in the ""A"" Class play. Very active as a teenager, she taught both swimming and synchronized swimming at the YWCA, where she and her students put on synchronized swimming performances. She also participated in the Canadian/ American swim meets. Bob was in the Air Force Aviation Cadet Officer training program in 1953. He told Claire that they probably would be moving a lot because of his career and Claire said ""I don't care, as long as I can be with you."" They became engaged in December 1953. Second Lieutenant Bob Pepe and Claire Labdon were married in June 1955 and spent the next 24 years in the Air Force, moving their family to 10 different bases throughout the United States and Germany. During Bob's years of service in the military, Claire was an active member of the Officer's Wife's Club. She was elected as the Chairwoman of Club activities and at one time, was also selected as President of the Wife's club. She was President of the Hill Air Force Base Thrift Shop and successfully had the highest sales for that shop. Money raised from the sales was given to local charities selected by the Thrift Shop volunteer staff. After retirement, Claire, Bob, Andy and Claire's Mom, Minnie, moved to Littleton, Colorado. Claire and Bob enjoyed many years of skiing with family and friends in Colorado, Switzerland, Italy, California and Utah. When their grandchildren traveled to Colorado for their annual ski trips, they enjoyed providing ski lessons and watching them progress over the years. Claire also looked forward to the annual house boating trips with family to Lake Powell, Utah and having a great time swimming with the grandchildren. Claire was an avid bowler and bowled in high school, while in the military and in retirement and has made many good friends through bowling. She taught her mother to bowl and started a senior bowling league for one of the recreational centers in Littleton. A Memorial Service is scheduled for Thursday 9th February at Horan & McConaty, 3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd. Lakewood, CO 80227 at 12:30 PM, followed by internment at Fort Logan National Cemetery. If desired, Memorial donations can be made in Claire's name to American Lung Association in Colorado, Denver; 5600 Greenwood Plaza, Suite 100, Greenwood Village, CO 80111. Donations can also be made online at www.Lung.org.