Patricia Joan Heimbigner September 06, 1939 – March 08, 2019 Share this obituary Send Flowers View/Sign Guest Book| Send Private Condolences| Send Sympathy Card Patricia (Pat) Joan (Wallingford) Heimbigner, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend to many, passed away on March 8, 2019, after a short battle with pneumonia and cancer. Pat was born in Pendleton, on September 6, 1939, to William E. Wallingford and Sara J. (Smith) Wallingford, both deceased. She grew-up in the Walla Walla Valley and surrounding areas.
She attended schools in Milton-Freewater, Athena, College Place and Walla Walla, graduating from Walla Walla High School in 1957. When Pat was young, her family moved to her grandparents’ Smith farm down on the Walla Walla River, not far from the Mojonnier Green House. This was when she fell in love with riding horses.
Through the years Pat rode most of the roads from the farm down to Umapine, Gardena, over to the Whitman Monument, KUJ Towers, and Old Braden School. After high school, Pat went to work at Birds Eye frozen food processing plant where she met the love of her in death on March 29, 2014. Pat and Ray were married on July 19, 1958, at Christ Lutheran Church in Walla Walla.
They made their home in the Walla Walla Valley where they raised their two children, Gordon and Debra. Pat took great pride in her children and granddaughters. She was an engaged, supportive parent and grandparent.
Pat served for many years as club leader of her daughter’s 4-H club, The Lowden Pedal Pushers. She was a fixture at her son’s sport events: baseball, football and basketball and later at her granddaughters’ softball and soccer games where she became a surrogate grandma to all of the girls on the various teams. Pat loved traveling throughout the summers to her granddaughters’ softball games.
She made sure there were always plenty of snacks for the girls’ and the umpires made correct calls. Pat was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, a church her father helped build. Pat was actively involved with the youth group through school and sang in the church choir for many years.
Pat was one of six generations that belong to Christ Lutheran Church. Pat’s greatest joy in life was her family. They always came first to her.
Pat is survived by her son, Gordon Heimbigner (of Walla Walla); daughter, Debra (Heimbigner) Conn (and husband Ray of DuPont, Washington); two granddaughters who were the joy of her life: Amanda Heimbigner (of Tacoma) and Sara (Heimbigner) Pinkerton (and husband James of Walla Walla); great-grandsons, Liam and Logan Pinkerton (of Walla Walla); brothers, Bill Wallingford (and wife Genie of Geneseo, N.Y.) and Larry Wallingford (and wife Janet of Morristown, TN); nieces, Terri (Wallingford) Gingras (and husband Scott of College Place) and Vicki (Wallingford) Roessler (and husband Mic of Indianapolis, IN. ); and nephews, Steve Wallingford (of Asheville, N.C) and Marc Wallingford (and wife Amy of Asheville, N.C). Viewing and visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 13, 2019, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home.
A memorial funeral service will be held Friday, March 15, 2019, at 2 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: the Walla Walla Humane Society or the Alzheimer’s Association through Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder Street, Walla Walla.
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