Phyllis Patricia Ormandy Bittinger

Phyllis Patricia Ormandy Bittinger died, of natural causes, in Portland, Oregon. She was 88 years old. She was born on December 7, 1921 in Portland to William Lewithwaite Ormandy and Birdie Corabell Griswold. She was predeceased by brothers James Griswold Ormandy, William Lewithwaite Ormandy, Donald Harrison Ormandy, Robert Mosier Ormandy and sister Margaret Mary Ormandy.

Patricia was educated in the Portland Public Schools, then the School of Art at the Portland Art Museum. Her father’s family, the Ormandys, hailed from Chippenham, Wiltshire a market town, about 90 miles west of London, England. She married Walter Pearson, then Jack Gay, Stuart Seeley, and finally Clifford Role Bittinger with whom she remained until his death in February 1997.

She is survived by her sisters: Ruth Naomi Ormandy Neal (of Portland); Esther Grace Ormandy Berberick (of Oregon) and by her children: Duke C. Pearson, Candace C. Pearson, Volney P. Gay, Victoria Gay Caravello, and Intiana (M’Liss Gay); and by her grandchildren: Cameron Campbell, Nicholas Naylor, Elizabeth Gay, Laura Gay, Eden Sky, Matthew Ernst, and Sarah Lopez; and by her great-grandchildren: Merlin Sky, Samantha Ernst, Caleb Anderson, and Noah Lopez.

Patricia was fiercely intellectual, a lover of music, books, ideas, and opinions. She lived an intense life, sometimes of struggle, often of great happiness, and always of involvement and passion. Following a divorce at the age of 27, she had five children each under the age of five years. In these circumstances her extended family stepped in to help carry her through. Through both difficult and happy periods the music of Chopin sounded through the house, Rembrandt remained a topic of conversation, and political debates—ranging from a spirited defense of Richard Nixon to Patricia’s lonely advocacy of Barry Goldwater—bounced around the dinner table.

The family is grateful to everyone associated with Providence Hospital, Elder Place services. They provided Patricia kind and skilled care in her final years and final hours.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 6, at 3:00PM with viewing starting at 2:00pm, at Ross Hollywood Chapel, 4733 NE Thompson, Portland, Oregon.

Private burial services will be at River View Cemetery.