Charlotte Mae Patching

Charlotte Patching was born to Willis and Myrtle Deal in Longview, Washington, on Nov. 3, 1927. Charlotte married Duane Patching on July 17, 1946, and they enjoyed 60 wonderful years together.

Charlotte was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, loved baking, enjoyed car rides, spent hours tending flowers and cherished her friendships in Alpha Iota Sorority.

Music was Charlotte’s lifelong passion. It’s the way she connected with people. Whether she was playing piano with an ensemble in church, accompanying a nursing home service, leading Christmas carols at her annual Cookie and Caroling party, or playing polkas on the accordion beside a campfire, Charlotte’s music always brightened the mood.

Her natural talent was amazing, and her greatest fan was her husband. She played by ear and read music. You could call out any song — hymn, oldie, country, patriotic — and Charlotte would play it. If it was pitched too high or low, she’d transpose it and encourage everyone to sing along. Her talents and personality at the piano were unparalleled.

Her overwhelming shyness melted away when she sat at a piano, and she loved to have friends and family around her while she played. Towards the end of her earthly life, she would ask caregivers to wheel her to the spinet where she would play “Jesus Loves Me” and “You Are My Sunshine.” Charlotte and her piano provided so many hours of entertainment. The only forbidden song was “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”!

While attending Rainier High School, Charlotte worked as a telephone operator and stapler in a box assembly plant. She graduated from high school in 1945, and moved to Astoria in 1959, after purchasing Miles Grocery. Charlotte later worked for Teamsters Local 569/58, and retired in 1984.

Charlotte went peacefully to her heavenly home on Nov. 13, 2018. She was preceded in death by her husband, Duane, her parents, two brothers and two sisters. She is survived by daughter, Diane (Walt) Curs; son, James (Jan) Patching; daughter, Dorothy Leonhardt (Paul Winiarz); grandchildren, Dean Fisher, Tami (Collin) Stelzig, Amy (Jeremy) Bubar, Andrew (Rebecca) Patching and Kari (Derek) Smith; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Remembrances may be made to the First United Methodist Church, Astoria, or the Shriners Hospital for Children.

Please join in Charlotte’s celebration of life at First United Methodist Church on Sunday, Nov. 18, at 2 p.m.