Pat was raised and lived much of her early life in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, though she considered her roots to be in southwestern Texas, the place from which her father, mother and their extended families all hailed. Pat graduated from Elizabeth High School (PA) and married Harry L. Morrison in 1956. Pat and Harry lived in several towns around Pittsburgh, raising their five children, building life and community, notably in Murrysville, PA. It was here that Pat began her life’s work teaching, counseling and caring for children. She volunteered in the public school system instructing learning-disabled children, ran children’s education and art programs in her local United Presbyterian church, and patterned infants with cerebral palsy.
In 1979 Pat married Leonard F. Ermold, Jr. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, spending forty-one years together with him until Len’s death in 2021. Len’s career with Westinghouse and Batelle took them to the northwestern states of Idaho and Washington. During this time, Pat continued her work with children, creating home safety programs through the local hospitals, teaching children in her adopted Lutheran church, serving in the Guardian ad Litem program and becoming a member of PEO. Pat and Len retired to Amelia Island, Florida in 2003. Throughout these last years, Pat was involved with numerous social and charity programs sponsored by local churches, including the First Presbyterian Church of Fernandina Beach (FL) to which she belonged until her death.
Pat Ermold will be remembered as a fine wife, mother, grandmother and community shining light. She is predeceased by her husband Len, her brother Thomas Pittard, step-mother Ida Pittard-Schenck, and her grandson Evan Toepel. She is survived by her brother S. Howard Pittard, her first husband Harry Morrison (Donna), and her five children: David Morrison (Phebe), Richard Morrison (Nina), Linda Toepel (Paul), Susan Morrison and Matthew Morrison. Pat also is survived by her three step-children: Leonard Ermold III, Robert Ermold and Lynne Huston (Steve). And she is survived by her three grandchildren - Lauren Toepel, Jordan Morrison, and Dashiell Morrison – and step-grandchildren: Alexandra Graves (Steven), Natasha Jack (David), Sophia Chestnut (Ben), Jolene Ermold, Sarah Ermold, Mekenzie Ermold, Nolen Huston, and Rylen Huston.
Pat was a good Christian person. She was an outstanding church member, read and studied the Bible continually and practiced her daily devotions religiously. She was fond of saying that the morning time was reserved for coffee and conversation with Jesus. Pat’s favorite symbol was the butterfly; it symbolized to her the promise of resurrection hope. And she lived that promise through her life, overcoming tremendous hardship in her youth; battling Lupus - a disease that she endured throughout adulthood; offering hope to hundreds of children afflicted by nature’s cruelties and society’s challenges; and mothering her children to her dying breath. Now Pat’s wings have been untied - she flies to the promise of resurrection life eternal.
The family will receive friends from 9:30am to 10:00am on Saturday, June 11, 2022 at Lamb Funeral Home, 101 Byberry Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 with a memorial service to follow at 10:00am. Interment will follow at Forest Hills Cemetery, 25 Byberry Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Pat's honor to Barnabas Center, 1303 Jasmine Street, Suite 101, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.lambfuneralhomeinc.com for the Ermold family.
