Patricia Ann Frey

Patricia A. Frey of Miamisburg, died on June 14, 2016, at Kingston of Miamisburg Nursing Home. Born on November 9, 1938 at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, Patricia is the daughter of Dan Edbert and Frieda [King] Smith Patricia was reared primarily in Charlotte, North Carolina, where her family moved when she was about 3 years old. A graduate of Harding High School, she earned the bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Appalachian State University in business education. Her first teaching position was at Brevard (N.C.) High School, but her teaching experience was extensive as the Brevard position was followed by teaching positions at Shenandoah University (where she met her husband), St. Paul (MN) Central High School, Central Virginia Community College (Lynchburg, VA), Southern State Community College (OH), Wilmington (OH) High School, Wilmington College, West Virginia State College, and West Virginia Career College. At a number of these positions she received outstanding teaching awards. For the final five years of her career Patricia was the Director of the Newspapers in Education program for both of the Charleston (WV) newspapers. Here, too, she won a national award for her programming encouraging the use of newspapers in public school classrooms. A devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, Patricia always placed the needs of her family above her own needs. This was verified on several occasions as she followed her husband through a number of job changes thus accounting for her numerous positions. She was a skilled seamstress, cook, and photographer and could frequently be seen taking pictures at a wide variety of events. A member of St. James United Methodist Church, where she enjoyed working in the Thrift Shop, Patricia is survived by her husband, Dr. Robert Frey of Miamisburg; her sister Sara Haynes of Charlotte (NC); her daughter, Brenda (Todd) Kraner, of Centerville (OH); and their four children, Patricia’s grandchildren, Courtney Ann, Kyle Robert, Kennedy Elizabeth, and Christian Todd Kraner whom Patricia loved with heartfelt passion. It was always a great day when she could spend time with her grandchildren. Universally admired and respected in the community and in any group with which she had contact, Patricia died after a long illness battling a brain tumor, and she will be missed by all—especially by her family. A memorial service will be held at St. James United Methodist Church, Miamisburg, at 11 AM on Saturday, June 25. Contributions in Patricia’s name can be made to Hospice of Dayton (324 Wilmington Ave., Dayton, OH 45420). Personal condolences may be forwarded to the family by visiting Patricia’s on-line memorial at www.gebhartschmidtparramore.com.