Patricia Meade Hawthorne, age 81, of Damascus, VA, and formerly of Newark, DE, passed away on Wednesday, July 9, 2014, at Johnston Memorial Hospital. She was born April 29, 1933, in New York City, New York, to the late Harold J. Meade and Helene B. Gordon Meade.

Pat graduated from Newark High School and the University of Delaware majoring in Biology. After graduation, she moved to Dryden, Michigan to work for Park Davis Pharmaceutical Company as a bacteriologist and married her high school sweetheart. After a long successful career, she retired to Houston, Texas and then to Damascus, VA, where she has resided for the last twelve years.

While living in Michigan, Mrs. Hawthorne deeply enjoyed the farm she and her late husband owned. It was here that they raised quarter horses, cattle and became fond of the open country living. She enjoyed admiring “her” mountains in Virginia, wildlife, collecting old tools and pottery crocks. Pat was also gifted with a beautiful ability for decorating.

She loved attending services at Damascus Church of Christ.

Survivors include five sisters, Carol Pearl and husband, David of Odessa, DE, Bernadette Malkiewicz and husband, Stanley of Glade Spring, VA, Mary Donovan and husband, Mike of Marietta, GA, Donna Armstrong and husband, Richard of Bear, DE, and Anne Beck and husband, Steve of Houston, TX; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her husband, William J. Hawthorne who preceded her in death in 1985.

A graveside service and interment will be held at 12PM on Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at Newark Cemetery, New and Chapel Sts., Newark, DE 19711. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 950 W. Faris Rd., Greenville, SC, 29605-4277. To send condolences visit www.rtfoard.com.