Patricia Peters

Pat’s childhood was tumultuous. She was orphaned by the age of 12. Her mother died when she was four years old. Her father died when she was 12. During the years following her father’s death, her principle caregivers were her step-mother and two grandparents. After her grandparents died, her step-mother could not earn enough to support them. Pat and her sister then moved in with distant relatives—a sister of her grandmother and her husband. She and her sister lived with them through their high school and college years. Pat and her sister have both commented that they were always surrounded and raised by people who loved them. On her wedding night it was Pat’s prayer that she could live long enough to raise her children. Pat was driven throughout her life to build a nurturing family environment and she succeeded and succeeded well. She had three children who were followed by seven grandchildren, two great grandchildren, with two more great grandchildren on the way.

Pat was born on April 29, 1936, in Dayton, Ohio, to John Clarence Schaeffer and Rachael Porter Schaeffer. Pat married Gordon Allen Peters on December 21, 1957 and graduated from Miami University in 1958 with a B.S. in Home Economics. After living in various cities throughout the Midwest, they settled in Columbus in 1962. Pat’s family enjoys knowing that Pat picked Gor in the 7th grade at Rocky River Junior High School. It took Gor until college to realize that Pat was the one. It was the very best decision that Gor ever made. Pat and Gor took their wedding vows seriously and supported each other. Pat did so with strength and optimism. She could be counted on for continuous love and support as she and Gor grew and matured. She was very even keeled, frugal, and self-sacrificing. Pat and Gor’s principle focus was on their children and the generations following.

Pat’s family wishes to focus on her many successes in life rather than mourn her loss. Pat was a woman of many talents and a homemaker in the truest sense of the word. She was an excellent seamstress and made wedding dresses for her daughters and daughter-in-law. Pat was an active parent and involved in many of her children and grandchildren’s activities. She spent a lot of time on various sets of bleachers and in all weather conditions. Pat was a master baker and was always ready to bake cakes and other delicacies for special occasions. She is well known within her family for her famous macaroni and cheese, blueberry coffeecake, and chocolate chip cookies. Pat loved gardening, birds, and was a founding member of the Whip-Poor-Will Garden Club. Early on, Pat and her family enjoyed many camping trips. She was certainly brave to take her three young children camping summer after summer, despite the heat, sand, insects, and even on occasion, leaking tents. Later, they enjoyed trips to the ocean. Pat’s children were surrounded with unconditional love throughout their childhoods and their happy memories are of comfort to them now. She was the creator of many family traditions that have been passed down to her children, her grandchildren, and her great grandchildren.

Pat had very serious health problems continuously for the last 30 years. It is important to know that she never complained and never gave up to the very end. Pat passed from this life to the next on March 20, 2019 at the age of 82. She was surrounded by love, laughter, and her favorite Neil Diamond music. Pat leaves behind a legacy of love, family, and living in gratitude.

Pat is survived by her husband, her children Sally Roll (David); Betsy David (Mike); and Tom Peters (Keelan), and the following grandchildren: Jessy Roll Castrogiovanni (Reno); Adam David (Lynsey); Amy David (Ty Urban, fiancé); Kennedy Peters; Annie Grace Peters; Kurt Engelking (Kelly) two great grandchildren, and two more due to be born this summer. Pat is also survived by many other family and friends that she loved dearly. Pat is preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Sondra Wiehe, her brother-in-law, Dick Wiehe, and her grandson, Benjamin Bly Roll.

Pat’s family will gather to meet friends and family on March 30th from 1:00 to 5:00 at Myers-Reed Chapel to celebrate Pat’s life. Joy, laughter, and even glee are welcome. Come as you are. A private lakeside celebration of Pat’s life will be held at a later date this summer. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice.