Patricia Zaiontz-Newcomer

Patricia Lee Zaiontz-Newcomer was born on October 13, 1951 and died on January 17, 2024 at the age of 72. She graduated high school in 1969 and attended the University of Texas majoring in Physics and Math. She taught in the Austin Independent School District where she met and married Kenneth Newcomer on July 20, 1985. Her endless love of people and service made her a great pastor’s wife. Following her husband’s death in 1989, she followed a new calling and graduated with a master’s in divinity at Southern Methodist University in 1995. During her service to the church, she led flocks all over south Texas and even in New Mexico.

Tricia loved to travel the US, but also made trips as far as England and Russia. While in college she would spend the summers visiting all the National Parks, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument was her favorite. She enjoyed long road trips, and she would drive across the country seeing friends and family. She was the glue that kept the family connected. Crafts were one of her gifts and she even taught herself to draw and paint. She loved people and plants, but especially loved cultivating roses.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth, and her mother, Mary Catherine Lukawitz Zaiontz. She is survived by her father Adrian Zaiontz, four siblings, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be conducted by her friend and colleague, Rev. Karen Boehk at the First United Methodist Church in Smithville, Texas at 10 a.m. on February 2. Interment will be at 2 p.m. at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery, 2800 Hancock Dr., Austin, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to:

Winchester United Methodist Church,

8933 FM 153, LaGrange, TX 78945 or

The Rotary Club of Weimar

406 W. Main, Weimar, TX 78962