Lasting Memories

Clinton Jr. Ancker
1920-March 12, 2008
Palo Alto, California

Clinton "Clint" Ancker Jr., 88, a resident of Palo Alto, died March 12, 2008.

He was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa. In 1940, he graduated from Purdue University. He served five years in the U.S. Army, including during World War II with the artillery in the Pacific. He left the service as a captain.

He taught engineering at U.C. Berkeley for eight years while concurrently pursuing a doctorate in engineering mechanics at Stanford.

For many years he worked in operations research, first at the Johns Hopkins Applied Research Center in Washington, D.C., and later at Systems Development Corporation in Santa Monica, Calif. He spent a year in Washington, D.C., as director of the National Highway Safety Institute.

For 16 years, he taught at the University of Southern California and served as chairman of the department of industrial and systems engineering. A professor emeritus, he retired in 1984.

With his wife, he lived for 46 years in Malibu, Calif., where he was active in local politics. The couple moved to Palo Alto two years ago, becoming the Hyatt Classic Residence's first residents.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Margaret Rees Ancker of Palo Alto; children, Clinton J. Ancker III of Bonner Springs, Kan., Evan Ancker of Westlake, Calif., and Megan Ancker Bowles of Palo Alto; and five grandchildren. His son Scott Ancker preceded him in death.