Patricia Jean Clay, 88, most recently living at The Ohio Veterans Home, Sandusky, passed away quietly Wednesday, June 15, 2011.
She was born May 12, 1923, in Dayton, to Helen M. and John E. Smith. While attending OSU, she met John Albert Clay, and they married Sept. 16, 1950. He passed away in May of 2002.
"Patty," as she was known to her friends, grew up in Dayton. During World War II, she joined the United States Marine Corps, and was stationed in San Francisco. After the war, she received her degree in social work at OSU, married John, and settled on the Hilltop area of Columbus to raise her family. She was very active at Hoge Memorial Presbyterian Church. In later years, they retired to John's family farm near Sunbury, and attended West Berlin Presbyterian Church. Patty loved to write and had several published poems. She was an avid OSU fan, and attended as many home football games as she could.
She is survived by a daughter, Janet (Van) Cole of Republic; son, Paul (Robin) Clay of Sunbury; five grandchildren, Kenneth (Kelli) Cole of New Bern, N.C., Bonnie (Tim) Pettry of Tiffin, Emily Cole of Bellevue and Danny Clay and Luke Clay, both of Sunbury; and eight great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 1-3 p.m. Saturday June 25, 2011, at Rodman Neeper Funeral Home, 1510 W. William St., Delaware, Ohio 43015. Celebration of Life services will follow at 3 p.m.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions, in her memory, be made to The Ohio Veterans Home, 3416 Columbus Ave., Sandusky, OH 44870-5598 or Stein Hospice, 1200 Sycamore Line, Sandusky, OH, 44870.
To share a memory of Patty, or to offer condolences to the family, please visit www.rodmanneeper.com.
