Patsy R. Rider

Patricia R. Rider, 84, of Fort Wayne, passed away on Saturday, November 16, 2019. She was born on September 3, 1935 in Peru, Indiana and was the daughter of the late Paul L. and Vivian (Horn) Smith. She was known throughout her life as “Patsy”. Patsy was like her father, shy and an unassuming person. She attended schools in Peru, New Castle, Detroit, and Fort Wayne, where she graduated from South Side High School. While in high school she participated in concert choir, So-Si-Y, Workshop 36, a speaker’s club, and USA club. The dominant theme from all the student’s that signed her high school yearbooks was that she was “a swell, sweet, cute, and nice girl with a great personality.” After spending three years at Southside, Patsy was off to ball State College where she began her studies to become an elementary teacher. During her four years there she worked in the Student Center cafeteria. That is where she met her future husband, Verrill. They were married in April of 1957 and she received her degree in elementary education a month later. During the summers she also worked at various jobs, one was serving as a camp counselor at Camp Sing-A-Long in Northern Indiana in 1953 and 1954. In June of 1957 her husband entered the armed forces and Patsy returned to Fort Wayne and began her teaching career teaching first grade at Frances Slocum School in Fort Wayne. During that time Verrill had become stationed in France. Upon completion of her first year teaching she was able to go to France and join him. They spent one year (June 1958 to June 1959) in Verdun, France. During her stay there she taught armed services member’s children at the Post School. She and Verrill lived off base in a second floor, unheated apartment, which was approximately one mile from the base. Patsy usually walked that distance each day to and from her teaching job. While there they were able to travel quite a bit to various countries. Among those places they were able to visit; the 1958 World’s fair in Brussels, Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, and Paris. Upon their return from France they returned to Fort Wayne and both resumed their teaching careers at Hoagland School in Hoagland, Indiana. Patsy taught first grade there for two years. After that she began teaching at Nebraska Elementary School with Fort Wayne Community Schools. She taught there until 1964 when their son, Brian, was born. She was an excellent teacher and loved her students. Their second son, Craig, was born two years later. Patsy became a stay-at home mother for several years until the boys were well along in their schooling. In 1965, her husband had been instrumental in organizing and starting a credit union for East Allen County Schools. Actually, the credit union began and was operated out of their home for a few years. In 1978, the credit union was relocated to Worthman Office Mall. At that time Patsy began helping with the credit union work. In 1982, the credit union moved to New Haven and Patsy continued to work at the credit union. She continued to work there until she retired in 1996. During the years that the boys were growing up the family did a few trips to some of the states - mostly to the eastern and southern areas. Also, there were annual family trips to visit her sister Susie, and her family in New Jersey. A few of the trips were as follows: the 1964 World’s Fair in New York, a visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame and on to Boston, visiting Charleston, South Carolina, and a visit to Florida. During this period of time Brian and Craig were involved in Little League baseball and other sports. Patsy enjoyed going to their games and other school activities. Patsy enjoyed the many family gatherings over the years. In 1975, the family built a cottage on Dallas Lake in LaGrange County. The family spent time there, especially in the summers and they enjoyed boating, skiing, and swimming. Several family gatherings were held at the lake - especially when her sister and her family came for a summer visit. She enjoyed being at the lake with her family. Patsy loved flowers, reading, music, and being with her family. Her favorite color was blue. Patsy was the consummate worrier. Patsy’s mother Vivian (Horn) Smith died when Patsy was a little over two years old. So, she never really knew her mother. During her formative years in New Castle her father, Paul, employed a caretaker for Patsy and her sister Susie. That caretaker was Auntie Glenn and the girls really loved her. When Patsy was around nine her father married Mary (Ritter) Smith and her stepmother came into her life and continued to raise and take care of the girls along with her father. Trips to Gulf Shores, Alabama, with her husband’s brother and family became an annual event in April of each year for several years. Later they enjoyed a cruise to Alaska with family and friends in 2005 and another cruise to Hawaii in 2008. Of their travel, trips included Blowing Rock, North Carolina in 2006, Western United States in 1999, Las Vegas/ Grand Canyon in 2000, and NYC in 2013. Surviving Patsy is her husband of 62 years, Verrill; sons, Brian (Rita Lyn) Rider and Craig (Nichole) Rider; grandchildren, Bailey (Nathan) Brown, Kira Rider, Noah Rider, Elijah Rider, and Aaron Rider; great-granddaughter’s, Nora and Mabel Brown; sister, Suellen Rumple; and several nieces and nephews. Also preceding her in passing was her stepmother, Mary R. Smith; and half- brother, Robert Wenger. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at the D.O. McComb and Sons Funeral Home, 6301 Fairfield Ave., Fort Wayne, Indiana (46807) with visitation two hours prior. Memorial contributions may be made to the Waynedale United Methodist Church or the American Red Cross. Condolences may be left online at www.mccombandsons.com.