Obituary of Patricia Dale Daniels

In the ‘wee morning hours’ of Saturday, July 16, 2022, Patricia Daniels went home to be with her Lord.  Born just outside of Waco, Texas, Patricia (Pat), migrated as a teen to Northern California, eventually settling in San Francisco as a young adult, where she met the love of her life, Bob Daniels.  Upon marrying Bob in 1955, they began a life together in Christian service.  Their ministry over the next 30 years took them to rural America where they pastored churches in Butte Falls, Oregon; Dilly, Oregon; Brinnon, Washington; Grenada and Hornbrook, California; and Colorado City, Colorado.  While Bob preached and served as the pastor, Pat did about everything else, from running the Sunday school, typing and publishing the weekly bulletin; organizing and leading Vacation Bible School, and as needed filling in on the piano or the organ.  As their ministry progressed, Pat began to hear and respond to her calling of helping little ones learn.  In Grenada and Colorado City, Pat established day care centers as a ministry of the churches. 

When their days of formal pastoral ministry ended, Pat and Bob headed to the mission field, first for three years in Guatemala followed by four years in Taiwan where Pat served as an administrator and a teacher of young children.  Returning from the mission field they initially settled in Northern Virginia where Pat continued to exercise her gift of teaching at Truro Episcopal Pre-School.  Eventually, Pat and Bob moved to Roanoke, Virginia, where Pat began to specialize in teaching children with special needs.  While in Roanoke she completed her graduate degree in Special Education, at the age of 75!  She continued to work with the Roanoke School system as a Special Education teacher for another 5 years.

Pat has touched many lives.  She brought energy and determination to everything she did.  Loving her young pupils, encouraging them to do more than anyone thought possible was her core tenant.  Though her legacy is long, she would give credit to her Lord and Savior, Jesus, and would echo the words of St. Paul in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Pat is survived by her husband Bob, of 67 years; her brother Jay Whitehouse, and her loving family, Stephen, Helen, David, Elizabeth, Dat, Phillip and Amy; her seven grandchildren, Benjamin, Timothy, Samantha, Andrew, Maxine, Shayla, and Sean; and her three great grandchildren, Colten, Dixie, and Gavin.

A memorial service remembering and celebrating the life and service of Pat Daniels will be held on Saturday, July 30, 2022, 11am, at the Faith Alliance Church, 7505 Barrens Road, Roanoke, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to give a memorial please donate to the Faith Alliance and on the memo line, write, “In memory of Pat Daniels.”  Faith Alliance is located at 7505 Barrens Road, Roanoke, VA 24019.