Birth date: Jul 24, 1936 Death date: Jan 31, 2021
The family of Patricia Ritchie Oliver, announces her recent passing on January 31, 2021. Patricia was born in Washington, DC on July 24 1936, daughter of the late William Suit Ritchie and Mildred Ritchie. She was one of four chil Read Obituary
Thank you Mrs.Oliver for being are Girl Scout Troop leader. The adventures you took us on and the memories created. The famous raised tent camping trip. The trip Faith left her sleeping bag to air out and it rained. We came to see you and you told us to figure it out. I think she laughed going back to bed. She made all of us become better young ladies.Thank you for showing us the love and joy and the memories I will never forgot. Thank you for everything.
My father and Aunt Pat were the youngest of four children and were playmates during childhood. His pet name for her was "Butch" and he may have been the only person in the world to call her that. I'm not sure whether the pet name "Butch" was part of the overall teasing Aunt Pat endured from my father during his lifetime or whether it was a welcomed reference to the closeness they shared growing up. Either way, my father teased her relentlessly into adulthood.
Decades ago, during large family gatherings, laughter would be heard everywhere as adults reminisced and cousins became instant playmates once again. But on a few occasions I remember the verbal exchanges between my father and Butch escalating to the point of drowning out the laughter. During one such exchange Aunt Pat suddenly stood up and walked away, her anger so intense she had to free herself from the conversation.
I don't know exactly what these heated conversations were about, but probably politics or the state of human affairs, or some other subject about which Aunt Pat was passionate. But one thing I noticed when I looked at my father during these rowdy discussions is that he wasn't angry. In fact I seemed to detect a slight smile on his face, as if he was quite pleased with himself for once again getting the better of Butch.
In the spring of 1946, the Ritchie family purchased a cottage on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay. At 9 years old, Aunt Pat began enjoying summers of beach combing, boating, fishing, crabbing, and bonfires along with her older siblings. The picture I posted on this website was taken at a recent family gathering with the same beach and bay serving as the backdrop. Rest in peace, Aunt Pat.
Fond memories of Patricia on her outings with Faith, who took such good care of her and shared sweet stories from recent years at Bayleigh Chase. Rest peacefully with your Heavenly Father. You will be missed. 🙏✝️️💜🌺
