WILHITE, Patricia Gray, 90, of Richmond, Va., passed away on Sunday, February 23, 2020. She was born in Toledo, Ohio, to John and Mary Gray on October 6, 1929. She was the youngest of 11 children. Pat attended St. Charles Borromeo Elementary School and Central Catholic High School until entering the Sisters of Mercy religious order in 1947. During her 25 years as a Sister of Mercy, she obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education at Mary Manse College, Toledo, Ohio and Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. She taught in several Catholic elementary schools in Northwest Ohio as well as Toledo Central Catholic High School.
In 1972, when she was called to a second vocation, she moved to Richmond, Va., where she taught at Fairfield Middle School until her retirement in 1988. In Richmond, she met her husband, Barry, and they married in 1979. During their 40 years of marriage, they traveled widely; their favorites were Goose Rocks, Maine; Tampa, Florida; and of course, Toledo, Ohio. Pat remained in close touch with her “Sisters” of Mercy, visiting often to St. Bernadine’s convent in Fremont, Ohio, where her older sister, Sr. Noreen Gray, resided.
Pat had many gifts that she generously shared. No one stayed a stranger after the “first Hello.” She was a confidant, an advisor and an encourager. She was very close to her over 50 nieces and nephews and their children by remembering them on their special days, acknowledging their accomplishments and attending their many significant life events. Pat also “adopted” many, many friends in the Richmond area and they too were called “family.” Special thanks to her niece, Nancy; Kim, Olga, Monica and Sam for all your loving care. Thank you to the Little Sisters for loving and caring for Pat.
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