Patricia Bortle

Villa Park, California.

Born September 10, 1936 to mother Martha and father Louis, she was raised in

Broomall, PA. There, she met her husband to-be, Alan Bortle in 4th grade. She

focused on basketball, field hockey and lacrosse at Marple Newtown High

School and went on to receive her business degree at Susquehanna University

as a Kappa Delta. After graduation, in 1956, she married Alan.

Two years later, in 1958, the newlyweds moved to California, and then quickly

to San Antonio, TX and Heilbronn, Germany where Alan was stationed with the

U.S. Army. During their year and a half abroad, Patricia had their firstborn,

Karen.

The pair bought their first home in Santa Ana, CA in 1960, later moving to

Garden Grove to Orange and ultimately settling in Villa Park in 1978. They

filled their homes with two more daughters, Jenn and Judi, all of their

daughters’ friends over the years and five dogs, including her beloved pal Star.

Patricia was lovingly called a ‘professional volunteer’ for all the time she

dedicated to being a community leader throughout her life. Starting with her

girls’ school as PTO President of Taft Elementary (and Bobby Socks Softball

Manager), she served as a volunteer at March of Dimes and St. Joseph Hospital,

was a board member at Salvation Army, was on the board of directors at

Community Action Partnership of Orange County, and was a docent at the

Nixon Library. She also worked as the Volunteer Director and Patient

Representative at Western Medical of Anaheim. In 1996, she was elected to city

council and later led her city as Mayor Pro Tem and Mayor until 2000. In 2004,

she received the “Women Who Make a Difference in Orange County”

Congressional Award.

She always had time for laughter and fun as well, traveling to 35 countries,

taking 23 cruises and enjoying poolside reading in Palm Springs and sledding

in Big Bear. She was a poet and writer, loved historical fiction, went shopping

with her ‘lunch bunch,’ played hours of bunco and computer solitaire,

completed hundreds of crosswords and was even in two bowling leagues.

While she was wildly accomplished, she’s best remembered for her presence -

one that filled a room with levity and open arms. She was a leading lady full of

gumption, with an infectious smile and generous laugh. She was admired by

many and served as everyone’s confidant, advice giver, partner and best friend.

She lived bravely, taking steps others hadn’t before her, with grace and

humility. She served with compassion, lived adventurously and loved

endlessly.

Patricia is survived by her husband of 63 years Alan T. Bortle, her ‘sistie’ Marti

Dawn-Brandt, daughters Karen Seeley, Jennifer Hughes, Judi Holst, her

nephew, her five grandchildren and the dozens of people she considers family

and whose lives she touched.

Her celebration of life will be held at Fairhaven Memorial’s Waverley Chapel

(1702 E Fairhaven Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705) on December 23rd at 2:30 pm. All

are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, please send prayers, share your favorite stories about her

and consider making a donation in her name to one of the following: The

Salvation Army or Community Action Partnership of Orange County (some of

her volunteer passions), The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's

Research (for those with Parkinson's too), and She Should Run (to empower

the next powerful female like herself.)

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.fairhavenmemorial.com for the Bortle family.