Individual Details

Cleda Mae TIPTON--- Cleda Tipton passed away peacefully in her West Seattle home on January 14, 2009 at the age of 90. Suffering from Alzheimer's disease during the final years of her life, the strength and determination gained from being the eldest daughter of a hard-working wheat farmer kept her going. Born in Seattle, she was raised on a farm outside of Harrington, Washington where she attended high school. Graduating in 1936, Cleda excelled in school, earning a position on the honor roll, served as a student body officer and performed in several school plays. Cleda became a registered nurse following graduation from Sacred Heart School of Nursing in Spokane. During her training, she served as an officer of the Mendela Club, a professional nursing organization and continued performing in school plays as the feminine lead. Shortly afterwards, Cleda was recruited by United Airlines to be among their first stewardesses. (At that time, flight attendants had to be registered nurses.) While based in Portland, Oregon she met and married Phil Klett who also worked for United. Cleda had to give up flying to raise a family but remained active with the organization as president of Clipped Wings, the United Stewardess Alumnae Association. After residing in Denver, Colorado for several years, she and her young family moved to Seattle in 1946. Here, Cleda returned to nursing, working many years for Dr. Homer Harris, a respected and well-known physician. In her retirement, Cleda loved gardening and caring for her gorgeous roses. She shared this passion with her second husband, Frank Tipton. Cleda was also an active member of the local gardening club. Cleda is survived by her son, Colin Klett (Helen); granddaughters Lisa Fouts (Devin) and Erica Klett; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Herb and Hazel Defabaugh; sisters Glenna Timm, Jean Davis and Dolores ("Dody") Drazey; her husbands Phil Klett and Frank Tipton; infant son Kipley Klett; and infant daughter Claudia Klett. An informal gathering of family and friends will be held on Sunday, January 18, 2009 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at her residence, 2505 51st Ave SW, Seattle, Wa. 98116. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her memory to the Alzheimer's Association or to a charity of choice.
Published in The Seattle Times from January 17 to January 18, 2009

Birth	9 Sep 1918	Seattle, King Co., Washington
Marriage	Abt 1942	Philip John Klett Jr.
Marriage	19 Jan 1972	Reno, Washoe Co., Nevada - Frank W. Tipton
Death	14 Jan 2009	West Seattle, King Co., Washington
Burial		Hillcrest Cemetery, Harrington, Lincoln Co., Washington

Spouse	Philip John Klett Jr. (1919 - 2005)
Child	Colin Klett (1944 - )
Child	Kipley Alan Klett (1945 - 1945)
Child	Claudia Jean Klett (1947 - 1947)

Spouse

Frank W. Tipton (1923 - 2004)

Father	Noah Hebert Defabaugh (1891 - 1959)
Mother	Hazel Mae Burge (1894 - 1975)
Sibling	Norma Jean Defabaugh (1924 - 2004)
Sibling	Glenna Faye Defabaugh (1926 - 1988)
Sibling	Dolores Janette Defabaugh (1932 - 1997)
Sibling	Sharon Rae Defabaugh (1939 - 1939)