Pat (Patricia Copple) Whitlock, 95, passed away Thursday, January 18, 2024 at the Hemingford Community Care Center.
Pat was born January 15th, 1929 in Greeley, Nebraska to Leonard S. Copple and Margaret Binderup Copple. She joined her sister Jo Ellen and the family then moved to Alliance in 1930. Pat attended the Alliance Schools. She married Bob Whitlock on June 1, 1947 at her family’s home in Alliance. This city girl took off her city cap and put on a farm cap, she became all country. Pat learned: to cook (excelling in it), garden and preserve foods, care for livestock, drive a stick shift pickup, haul grain to the elevator during harvest, hauled her kids and horses to high school rodeo’s, became an R.N. at the age of 55 and was an accomplished seamstress and quilter. In later years Pat and Bob enjoyed hosting friends for a few games of cribbage. The Lord Jesus, family and friends were precious to her.
Bob and Pat were married for 76 and ½ years. Bob believed she was the only woman in the world who could have put up with him for that long of a time.
Pat is survived by her husband, her children, Matt (Carlene) of Hemingford, Lee (Jettie) of Bandera TX, Paula (Rex) Fritzler of Glendo, WY and Gene (Diane) of Orchard, NE. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Shane Sexton, Roxann Gamboa, Carl Whitlock, Randi Ussery, J.B. Schwaderer, Jacci Schwaderer, Eugene Fritzler, Justin Whitlock, Chandra Whitlock, Alex Meyer, and Ashley Meyer; 22 great grandchildren, 8 great great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Preceding her in death were her parents, sisters and brothers in law Jo Ellen and Mac McCullah, Charlene and Duane Rickard.
Funeral services will be Friday, January 26, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Alliance. The Reverend Greg Reed and Galen Nordin will officiate. Burial will be in the Alliance Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, January 25 from 1-6 p.m. with the family being present from 4-6 p.m. at the Bates-Gould Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Box Butte County 4-H, the Alliance Volunteer Fire Department or the Hemingford Fire Department.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com.