Patricia Ann Woodroof Salmon, artist, mother, and dedicated Marine Corps wife of 41 years, passed away, Saturday, July 4, 2020, at her assisted living residence in Fairfax, Virginia, of complications from Alzheimer’s.
Pat was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, to William Edwin Woodroof, Sr. and Mildred Davis Burford Woodroof. She graduated from Bluestone High School in 1958 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art and Sociology from Lynchburg College in 1962, where she was also the CEO of a major steel corporation, held down three jobs, and earned a 4.0 grade average. After college, Pat taught kindergarten, before marrying the love of her life, Christopher Bur Salmon. The two were married in Richmond Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, December 21, 1963. The Cathedral can confirmed this – as seemingly, no photographic evidence of their union exists.
Embarkation on a life of military service followed, in which Pat found great happiness, crisscrossing the country twice in a green Chevrolet Caprice, which held the lingering scent of cherry Slurpee and pine forest, a 12-string guitar, Tinkerbell, and a CB operator handled “Patty Cake”. Two of Pat’s favorite posts were New York city and Whidbey Island; summer vacations were spent on the Outer Banks with lots of family. Chris cherished his wife’s Virginia roots though (being a military brat, he had none of his own), and eventually they made their way back to the Commonwealth. On the way, they rescued their niece from malicious nuns bent on breaking children’s spirits, and finally settled into a 200-year-old farmhouse in Flint Hill, which Pat set about lovingly restoring. She had a meaningful career as spirit guide and life coach to many of the youth in the area, and in 1987, they decided to adopt an eighteen-year-old and raised her as their own daughter, instilling in her, the importance of grace, acceptance, and knowledge. They hosted countless friends and family on “The Porch”, where everyone enjoyed gracious hospitality and beautiful views. On special occasions, one could see deer strolling through the hayfield. Pat’s own deep appreciation of nature and beauty produced numerous canvases of the places she loved and many of these scenes were to be found at the farm, and in time, her daughter’s basement. After Chris passed in 2005, Pat moved back to Amherst County to be near her fabled roots.
She is survived by her children, Stuart Christopher Salmon (Jessica) of Charlottesville, Timothy Bur Salmon of Winchester, Deirdre Ann Salmon Hays (Tim) of Leesburg; bonus children, Patricia Nevins Kime (Carl) of Arlington, and Tracey Sutphin Miller (Christie) of Wyoming, Delaware; grandchildren, Emily, Quinton, and Christopher Hays of Leesburg; her beloved brother, William Edwin “Buddy” Woodroof, Jr. (Penny) of Richmond; and dozens of nieces and nephews.
Pat will be remembered for her abounding love of family, art, animals, and historic romance novels as well as the infallibility of being Pat Salmon.
Visitation will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 11 at Whitten Monelison Chapel, 3966 S. Amherst Hwy., Madison Heights, followed by a service at noon in the same facility. Burial will follow the service at Allwood Cemetery behind El Bethel Methodist Church, 925 Buffalo Springs Turnpike, Amherst.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund and Rappahannock Animal Welfare League.
Please hug a cat.
