Patricia Avonne Colburn

Okemos

Patricia Avonne (Dawson) Colburn died peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Sunday, August 2, 2015 after a long illness. Patricia was born on August 19, 1927 in Clarksburg, Ohio, the fifth and last child of John Owen Dawson and Melva Eleanor Mossbarger.

Patricia married William E. Hamilton in 1945. They had 3 children, William, Jean and Robert. During the children's early years, Pat was a room mother, Cub Scout den mother, assistant Girl Scout leader, Sunday School teacher, chauffeur, and supporter of all the children’s activities. She said that being a parent was what she did best and enjoyed most. Pat worked for the Lansing School District from 1969 until 1987 when she retired. In 1978 she enrolled in evening classes at Lansing Community College where she completed an associate degree in business management, graduating (magna cum laude) in 1982.

She was a member of Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing and found the church to be a meaningful and significant part of her life. She also volunteered at the Riverwalk Theater and was a docent at the Michigan Historical Museum. In 1986 she married William H. Colburn. They traveled extensively, visiting England, France, Greece, Costa Rica, Mexico, Bermuda, Italy, Turkey, the Panama Canal, and cruised on the sailing yacht Sea Cloud in the Mediterranean. Patricia was an avid reader, enjoyed theater, music, fine arts and socializing with friends. She loved to tell the story of how, in 1942, she was named the "healthiest girl in Ross County" by the judges at the county fair and had her picture published in the Chillicothe Gazette next to one of Bonnie Ellen -- the first place heifer. Family was always a top priority for Pat. She maintained close contact with her children and grandchildren. It was her hope to be remembered as an important and positive force in their lives. With her marriage to Bill Colburn, she acquired an additional family. Bill’s sister and brother, along with their spouses and many nieces and nephews, enriched her life. Pat is survived by her children, William (Carol) Hamilton, Jean (John) Kaufmann and Robert (Fran) Hamilton, 7 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband William Colburn and her 4 siblings. A memorial service for Patricia will be held at 10:00 a.m., August 29, 2015 at the Greater Lansing Unitarian Universalist Church, 855 Grove St, East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 351-4081 Remembrances may be made in Patricia’s name to the UU Church of Greater Lansing, www.uulansing.org or the Alzheimer’s Foundation, www.alzfdn.org The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, East Chapel. On line condolences may be made at www.greastlansing.com