Patricia Ann Neser

Pat was born in Santa Monica, California, on September 15, 1936. She was the last of five children born to Benjamin Allen Walton and Mary Hamilton Glade. Being the youngest child, she was well taken care of and looked out for by her siblings. Pat told the story of how she disliked the fact that when her sisters got older and went out on dates, they weren’t around to play with her.

Pat grew up in the Mar Vista area of West Los Angeles. She attended Betsy Ross Elementay School, Mark Twain Junior High and Venice High School. Pat liked to tell everyone that Venice High was where the movie “Grease” was filmed. Pat learned to play the piano, which was a real joy to her and her family throughout her life.

In her teenage years, Pat’s father, Ben Walton, owned a men’s clothing store called “The Toggery”, which was located near the corner of Venice Blvd. and Centinela Avenue in Mar Vista. Pat used to work at the store after school and on weekends. She liked to tell the story about riding with her father on the Pacific Electric Red Car to the garment district in downtown Los Angeles to buy clothes for the store. Besides riding the Red Car and spending time with her dad, she enjoyed having lunch with him at Clifton’s Cafeteria in downtown Los Angeles. Pat also used to take the Red Car with her sisters and friends to Venice beach.

During Pat’s teenage years, the bishop in her church asked the young men and young women in the church to write letters to the missionaries and service men serving from that area. So, Pat dutifully sent out letters. After a time, one of the servicemen began to write letters back to Pat. That exchange of letters between Pat and this serviceman, Paul Irving Neser, eventually developed into a long-distance romance. Soon Pat and Paul were engaged to be married. Pat liked to joke that Paul asked her to marry him through a letter.

Pat and Paul were married on April 28, 1955, in the Mesa Arizona Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the “LDS Church”). Soon after they were married, the young couple made their way to Provo, Utah so that Paul could get a bachelor’s degree in business at Brigham Young University. While in Provo, they welcomed their first child, Arlin. After Paul’s graduation, they returned to southern California to start their new life. Pat and Paul eventually bought a home in the San Fernando Valley (the “Valley”) in Canoga Park (now West Hills) in part because Paul worked in construction and there was a lot of work in the Valley building homes. After a time, Pat and Paul welcomed three more children into the family: Bruce, Tom and Karen.

Pat was active in the community, serving on the local PTA and other community organizations. She involved her kids in sports, in swimming lessons and in music. She liked to put on parties and was always willing to invite friends and family into her home.

Throughout her life, Pat was active in the LDS Church and served in many positions. Among other things, she was a Scout leader, a Sunday School teacher and Relief Society president. Probably her greatest church role was that of supporter to her husband Paul when he was called to be the bishop of the local LDS Church ward.

After her children were older, Pat got a job working at the West Valley Occupational Center in Woodland Hills, California, as a secretary. She enjoyed the opportunity to work with young people and help them as they transitioned into adulthood. She also worked as the secretary in Northridge Institute of Religion for the LDS Church and worked with young missionaries in the office of the California San Fernando Mission.

Unfortunately, Paul passed away in 1997 leaving Pat a widow. This experience, though difficult at the time, helped her develop deep compassion and empathy for those around her.

In her later adult life, Pat was able to travel to many countries in the world with family and friends. She also looked forward to the yearly “girls’ trip” to a cabin near Oakhurst, California, with her dear friends from the Valley.

Pat is survived by her children Arlin Neser (Allison), Tom Neser and Karen Schafer (Kent), her grandchildren Chloe Hudson (Brian), Max Neser (Sarah), Nicolaus Neser (Chloe), Lauren Neser, Andrew Neser (Jaden), Jessica Almon (Stuart), Heather Jackson (Travis), Casey Price, Madison Payne (Jed), and eight great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Irving Neser, her son, Bruce Kevin Neser, and all her siblings.

Pat’s funeral service will be held on August 29, 2026, at 10 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Woodland Hills Ward, located at 4501 Deseret Drive in Woodland Hills, California. The service will be broadcast over Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/91024599309?pwd=HdCUOLOcKiBE2K7jpabxPenTKzmBwB.1

She will be interred at the Oakwood Memorial Park and Cemetery in Chatworth, California.