Patricia Beightler

Patricia Ann Beightler, née Thompson, died Sunday April 22, 2012 at her home in Austin, Texas. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Drs Judy and William (Dee) Betts, Suzy and Jesse Whittenton, Drs Carol and John Ziebert, and Drs Barbara and Scot O'Donnell; daughter-in-law Dr Liz Beightler; grandchildren Lauren, Leslie, and Bobby Beightler, Michael and Kathryn Betts, Chris, Haley, Luke, Jessica, and Suzanne Whittenton, Jackson, Will, and Paige Ziebert, and Tommy, Sarah, and Jake O'Donnell. She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles Beightler, PhD and her son, Dr Bill Beightler.

Pat was born in South Bend, Indiana on January 13, 1925, the daughter of Elsie (Ritter) Thompson and Elora Leonard Thompson. She graduated from Central Junior-Senior High School in South Bend, where she was president of her junior and senior class, vice-president of the advanced band, and member of the tennis team and yearbook staff. She obtained her B.A. in Economics at Kalamazoo College, where she was elected to Who's Who, the Scholars Group, and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, and served as the President of the Junior Class, Eurodelphian Gamma Society, Trowbridge House, and Women's League. She played trumpet in the band, worked on the yearbook and newspaper staffs, and participated in the Women's Athletic Association. She was a member of the Homecoming Queen's court in 1947. She obtained her MBA with a concentration in Economics from the University of Chicago, where she studied under Milton Friedman.

She worked as Director of Personnel at Studebaker Corporation. She married Charles in 1957 and in 1961 moved to Austin, Texas where they raised their five children. She always emphasized the importance of a good education and a strong work ethic. Ever the activist, she founded the Northwest Austin Civic Association and was very involved in her children's PTA's. Pat was active in local and regional politics, participating in several campaigns. She learned German and managed the family in Freiburg, Germany during Charles' Fulbright years there. After her children were grown, she entered the real estate profession and ultimately started her own company. Well into her 70's, she could still belt out the Notre Dame fight song on her trumpet. She loved playing bridge and especially treasured her "bridge club" friends. She was also an avid reader and enjoyed her grandchildren.

The family would like to thank her caregivers and neighbors for their support over the years.

The family will receive visitors at Weed-Corley-Fish, 3125 North Lamar, on Sunday April 29 from 1-3 pm.