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In Memoriam

Patricia Ann "Pat" Abel (Barnard) - Class Of 1953

Patricia Ann Abel, daughter of Walter P. (1903-1996) and Mary E. (Gartland) (1908-1987) Abel, was born 5 March 1934, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  Mr. and Mrs. Able moved their family from Pennsylvania to Michigan about 1945.  Patricia attended Okemos High School with the class of 1953.  She married Douglas Lowell "Doug" Barnard 21 July 1950, Okemos, Ingham County, Michigan.  Doug was a 1949 graduate of Okemos High School.

Patricia and Doug celebrated 5 children and 52 years of marriage together before her death 16 December 2010, Lansing, Ingham County.  

Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Homes obituary:

Patricia, 76, of Houghton Lake, formerly of Okemos, died Thursday while at the Hospice of Lansing's Stoneleigh Residence.

Patricia was preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Harry Smith of Lansing; brother-in-law, Homer Harder of Toledo, OH; brother, Walter Abel of Higgins Lake, MI; and brother, Edward Abel of Okemos, MI. The daughter of the late Mary and Walter Abel, she was one of six siblings. On July 21, 1950 she married Douglas of Okemos, MI who survives.

She was a member of the Okemos Eastern Stars. A member of Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church since June of 1963, Patricia also served as a member of the Altar Guild. While her first passion and priority was being a dutiful wife and loving mother, she also enjoyed her time working at Lorain Oils.

She is survived by her sister, Dorothy Shinn of Toledo, OH; sister and brother-in-law, Margie and Jerry Wright of Houghton Lake, MI; sister-in-law Donna Abel of Higgins Lake, MI; daughter Suzanne of Lansing; daughter and son-in-law Patricia and Thomas Shaver of Lansing; son Phillip of Lansing; son Ronald of Washington, D.C.; son and daughter-in-law Douglas and Elizabeth of Leawood, KS; 8 grand children; and 3 great grandchildren.

A Funeral Service was held Monday, December 20, 2010 at the East Chapel, East Lansing, MI.

Contributions may be made to: Hospice of Lansing, Lansing, MI, or, MSU Breslin Cancer Center, Lansing, MI.

Patricia had a remarkable ability to bring joy and happiness to all, including a multitude of healthcare professionals who devoted themselves to her courageous battle with cancer. While she will be sorely missed, her legacy of love and compassion will always live on. Published in Lansing State Journal on December 18, 2010

The family is being served by the Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Homes.