Obituary for Patricia Rae Rhodes Patricia Rae McDermott Clement Rhodes entered into her final rest on November 25, 2018, at the age of 81. Born in Las Animas, Colorado, in 1937, Pat and her parents moved several times before settling in Tracy, California, where her father worked as a typesetter and reporter for the local newspaper and her mother worked for the county health department. Pat graduated from UC Berkeley and headed for North Carolina to serve in the US Marine Corps.
She served for two years before being discharged from active duty as a first lieutenant. In 1961 she married Dick Clement, a jet pilot and fellow Marine. They had two daughters, moved to St Louis, and divorced in 1979.
During that time Pat earned two master’s degrees, one in sociology and one in history, and an associate degree as a paralegal. She used those skills to get a job as a paralegal for a St. Louis veterans association and then became an archivist for the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, a job she loved. She also worked as a historian for the US Army Troop Support Command.
Something else she loved was John Rhodes, a man she met one night at a bowling alley in St. Louis. They dated for two years and married in 1983. In 1987 Pat and John moved to El Paso, where he worked for the Internal Revenue Service and Pat worked as a historian at Fort Bliss Army Base.
She retired in 2004, several years after John’s retirement. Pat and John were married for 35 years and had a ball together. They traveled the world, visiting Canada, Mexico, much of Europe, the US and a cruise through the rivers of Russia.
One of her favorite places to visit was Britain. They traveled in groups, with couples, and by themselves, enjoying each other’s company and the adventures of traveling. She also spent many years doing volunteer work for Planned Parenthood and political campaigns on both sides of the aisle.
Pat loved her family, cats, trivia, reading, old movies, Gershwin music, funny people, politics, friends and laughter. She was smart, witty, creative, fun-loving, curious and generous. She was a deep thinker, a good friend, and loved being the life of the party.
Pat was adored by many people throughout her long, lively life. Pat is survived by her beloved husband John, daughter Julia Clement-Voigt (Michael Voigt), daughter Jennifer Clement, stepson Phillip Rhodes, stepdaughter Paula Johnson (Jeffrey), granddaughter Nina Voigt, grandson Benjamin Mohler, step-grandchildren Tonya Vernon, AJ Vernon (Rebecca), and two-step great-grandchildren, Randi Rae and Nora Vernon. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 2pm.
Sunset Funeral Home-West 480 North Resler Drive. Please visit the online registry at www. sunsetfuneralhomes.net In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Planned Parenthood, the Humane Society, or a charity of your choice.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Patricia Rae Rhodes please visit our Sympathy Store. Upcoming Events Memorial Service , DEC 1. 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Sunset Funeral Home – West 480 N. Resler El Paso, TX, US, 79912 Order Flowers for the Memorial Service Guaranteed delivery before Patricia’s Memorial Service begins.
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