Patricia Mae Newton

Patricia W. Newton of Houston, Texas passed away peacefully on July 22, 2024 with her family by her side at the age of 94. She was born on August 8, 1929 in Monroe, Louisiana and grew up in Northeast Louisiana, Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Houston, Texas where she attended and graduated from Stephen F Austin High School.

She attended and graduated from Louisiana State University in 1952 with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. Patricia played flute in the Golden Band from Tigerland at LSU ( the LSU Marching Band) all four years she attended LSU.

She later attended the University of Houston and obtained her Master’s Degree in Psychology.

She worked as a fifth grade teacher at Alcott Elementary School (HISD) and later as a counselor for HISD touching the lives of many children during her career there.

She was an accomplished flutist and graced many church and holiday events with her music. She was actively involved in several church choirs and sang soprano. She truly enjoyed playing Mahjong on a weekly basis with friends. She was an avid knitter and weaver. She spun and dyed wool to create beautiful linens. To escape the Houston heat, Pat would retreat to her quaint cabin in the cool mountains of Beulah Colorado. Mimi (as her grandchildren called her) would travel to Beulah for “Grandma Camp”. Many outings to Bishops Castle, Lake Isabel and Royal Gorge during Grandma Camp helped her bond with her grandchildren and the kids had a blast while getting to know each other better as well.

She is preceded in death by her father Joseph W. Wright Sr., her mother Thelma Ogden Wright, her brother Joseph W. Wright Jr., her husband Jesse P. (Jeff) Van Pelt, her husband Carrol Wood, her husband Oscar Newton and her grandson Craig A. Smith.

She is survived by her sister Leslie W. Pollock and husband Gene, daughter Karen (Van Pelt) Simon and husband Gary, son David K. Van Pelt and wife Beth, granddaughters Sara R. Jones and Melissa A. Guffin (Troy), grandsons David K. Van Pelt(Jessica) and Sam E.Van Pelt, great grandchildren Robert Belton, Juniper Guffin, Luke Van Pelt, Easton Van Pelt as well as nieces, nephews and many loving friends.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service in the chapel at Forest Park Funeral Home on Westheimer on July 29, 2024 at 10:00am. Visitation with the family will begin at 9:00 am with the service at 10:00am and interment at Forest park Cemetery. Immediately following the committal there will be a reception with lite refreshments in the event room adjacent to the chapel.