Patricia MacCleary

Patricia Jane (Armitage) MacCleary peacefully passed away on May 9th at the Worthington Christian Village where she has lived for the past 4 years. She was born on May 6, 1922 in Portland, Oregon to William O. and Grace (Bush) Armitage. Her sister Lois Ann (Armitage) Jurgens passed away several years ago and her husband Dale MacCleary died in 1970. She is survived by her son Randy MacCleary and wife Jane, daughter Karen (MacCleary) McVey and husband Michael; three grandchildren Melodie McVey (husband Scott Steele), Carly McVey (husband Patrick Terrien) and Jared MacCleary; and her four great grandchildren Cora Elizabeth, Victoria Lynn, Colin Thomas and Liam Michael.

At the age of eight during the Great Depression, Patricia’s parents returned to Apollo, Pennsylvania from Oregon where they started the Armitage Bros Grocery store and later the Armitage Hardware store. Growing up Patricia received her earliest experience in learning how to service customers and treat people with respect working the store. This skill would prove to serve her well during her years as a teacher.

Patricia met her husband Dale MacCleary in 1943 during World War II. They had both joined the Marines and were married just 20 days after they met; a true love at first site story that lasted until Dale’s untimely death at the young age of 48. Patricia never remarried and they are finally together again.

She started her teaching career in 1947 in the Pennsylvania school system after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in Education. Patricia and her family moved to Worthington in 1961 and obtained her Ohio teaching certification. She started teaching 5th grade in the Columbus school system at Mifflin Elementary. She then went to the Worthington school system where she started teaching at Evening Street Elementary; then Worthington Estates Elementary. During her career in the Worthington system she taught 3rd and 5th grades and was a champion at writing the “The Third Grade Day” historical curriculum.

Patricia returned to college in the summers and graduated from The Ohio State University in 1972 with a Master of Arts degree. In 1975 Patricia became the librarian at Evening Street elementary until her retirement in 1985. She had a passion for learning and excitement for reading which she shared with those around her. She loved her students and they loved her.

Patricia was a member of the DAR (Daughters of American Revolution), Worthington Historical Society, Brinton Family Genealogy Association, and Worthington Presbyterian Church.

A memorial service will be held at the Worthington Christian Village chapel located at 165 Highbluffs Blvd, Columbus, Ohio 43235 on May 20 at 3:30pm and calling hours until 6pm. She will be laid to rest at the Washington, Pennsylvania cemetery, May 21, 2011 to be buried with her husband. A grave side military service will be held for her and attended by family only. In lieu of flowers please contribute to The American Cancer Society.