A 98-year journey of dedication to God, service, love, family, and adventure came to a peaceful close on August 13, 2022. Pat Paul Pavone, of Austin, TX, went home to the Lord to be reunited with his family members that have gone before him. Pat was surrounded in loving prayers by his beloved wife, Stacey Pavone, four cherished daughters [Linda Pavone Thielepape (Charlie), Judy Pavone, Amy Pavone, and Kristina Stacey Robertson (Steve)], five grandchildren [Dean Chambers (Karen), Nick Chambers (Flavia), Steven Robertson, Colin Robertson (Angel), and Kara Robertson (Josh Weingrad)], and five great-grandchildren, (Victor Miller, Lilian Chambers, Elliot Chambers, Lukas Chambers, and Bennett Weingrad). Pat (Pasquale) was born the day after Easter in Youngstown, Ohio on April 21st, 1924 into a close loving family. He was predeceased by his parents, Thomas Pavone and Benilda Tamburrino Zappi Pavone, his beloved sisters and brother (Mary Pavone Lucurell, Edith Pavone Mosco, Josephine Pavone Sylvester, Philomena Zappi Aquino, and Sam Zappi), and his daughter, Kimberly Stacey.
Pat had a million and one stories about growing up in Youngstown with his family and he was always happy to relate not only the stories, but the love and sense of family that was the foundation of his life: his mother walking to mass every morning no matter the weather; his father bringing home a Baby Ruth candy bar every Saturday and dividing it into eight pieces to share among the family; making “skis” out of discarded curtain rods to ski down the local hill with his buddies; walking down to his father’s garden plot to water and harvest the vegetables that his mother canned and used to make the best Italian family meals; and the hospitality of his father offering a glass of homemade wine to visitors…but NEVER to sell and don’t ask!
Pat enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943 to serve as a pilot in WWII. He flew multiple missions in North Africa and was then called back to active duty in 1953 as an Air Force flight instructor for the Korean war. Pat was awarded several medals for his service: American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Armed Forces Reserve Medal.
Pat’s war stories, flying stories, and stories about his buddies were just as numerous: landing at a Mississippi air base late one night to fuel up his plane and himself on coffee to experience “Man, we don’t got no cream and sugar!”, chicory coffee for the first time; asking about a “Watch for Snakes” sign on a runway field in West Texas that he couldn’t take off from fast enough; sleeping on a truck during a field training exercise with his buddies from New York after a snake crawled into a tent of a guy the night before, and the time they went to Mexico on leave and his buddy got so drunk he passed out and they took a picture of him on a donkey in a serape and big sombrero.
Pat moved to Texas after receiving orders to Bryan Air Force Base as a pilot instructor during the Korean war. He met and married his first wife, Mary Ann Rutledge, and was blessed with three beautiful daughters: Linda Pavone Thielepape, Judy Pavone, and Amy Pavone. Pat took his love of community and serving others and turned it into a successful career with New York Life Insurance that spanned an amazing 59 years! Pat’s honest nature and outgoing personality allowed him to build not only a client list, but a multi-generation life-long friends list.
In 1984 with his hair permed and sporting a green polyester leisure suit with bright green top stitching, Pat met the love of his life, Stacey Pavone. Despite his questionable fashion choices, Pat and Stacey began a 38-year-long marriage and love affair that added two more daughters to the mix: Kimberly Stacey and Kristina (Stacey) Robertson. Pat bought a joy for life, a love for God, and love of dancing, sports, golf, music, laughter, and family into not only Stacey’s life, but everyone he ever met.
Visitation will be held Thursday, August 18th, from 6:00pm-8:00pm with a Rosary at 7:00pm at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home located on 411 Ranch Road 620 South, Lakeway, TX 78734. Additional details and the full obituary can be found at www.wcfish.com. Memorial Mass will be celebrated Friday, August 19th at 11:00am with a reception to follow at Emmaus Catholic Church on 1718 Lohman’s Crossing Rd, Lakeway, TX 78734. Flowers can be delivered to the Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home prior to the Thursday visitation.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations honoring Pat’s service and love of family may be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation for the benefit of veterans and their families at garysinisefoundation.org.
