Pansy Patricia Hall Hoelting

Pansy Patricia Hall Hoelting was born July 4, 1921, in New Westminster, British Columbia. She died at home Aug. 30, 2016, in Langley, surrounded by loving family. She was age 95.

Pat grew up on Seattle’s Queen Anne Hill, attended Queen Anne High School and graduated from the University of Washington in 1943.

She married Alan Hoelting on Sept. 17, 1942, while he was on leave from his Naval duties in the South Pacific during WWII. Pat and Al enjoyed 62 years of married life. They were the parents of four children, Leslie Hoelting (wife of Greg Davidson), Kim Hoelting (husband of Heidi Hoelting), Kurt Hoelting (husband of Sally Goodwin) and Dana Kelly (wife of Doug Kelly).

Pat and Al moved to Whidbey in 1989 to be close to their children and grandchildren. They had 10 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, who were all intimately involved in Pat’s life. Pat was revered by all in her family as a role model and constant source of wisdom and love.

Pat was preceded in death by her husband Al in 2005.

After growing up in Seattle, Pat lived in Tiburon, Calif., Falls Church, Va., Vancouver, B.C., Bellevue, Kihei, Maui, and Port Ludlow, Wash., prior to her move to Whidbey Island with Al.

Pat loved travel, visiting many parts of the world, even into her nineties. Her curiosity about world cultures and religions was insatiable. She was a voracious reader, and a regular at Langley Library.

She was passionate about hand crafts, and gifted in sewing, knitting, quilting and smocking. Many of her creations are true works of art, and heirlooms for many members of the family. She had a lifelong passion for antiques, inherited from her mother. Pat inspired three subsequent generations with her passion for agate hunting and beach walking on the shores of Puget Sound. She was a wonderful cook, and her house was the center of family reunions and holiday gatherings for many decades. She taught and inspired her children and grandchildren to cook, and to share home-cooked meals with neighbors and families in need or in grief.

When Pat and Al settled on Whidbey in 1989, Pat became deeply involved in St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church. She was an avid beach walker, circumnavigating Whidbey on foot three times. She volunteered for many years at Good Cheer. For years she was an active member of Useless Bay Golf and Country Club, where she loved to golf. Her vitality and love of life inspired many wherever she went.

Pat’s Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Freeland, with a reception following in the Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be offered to St. Augustine’s Church in Freeland, Good Cheer in Langley, or Friends of Langley Library.