Martha Pace Patchan

Martha P. Patchan, age 79, passed away on May 1st, 2018 from heart failure. She was born in Washington, DC to Thomas A. and Zelma S. Pace, and raised in the Franklin Forest neighborhood of McLean, VA. Martha graduated from Falls Church High School in 1956 and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English & Speech Education from the University of Maryland in 1961. After college, she worked as an Editorial Assistant at the National Geographic in Washington, DC. She married Michael Paul Patchan, Jr on September 1st, 1962. Martha was a homemaker for many years before reentering the work force as an administrative assistant at the Prince George’s Community College. She was known as “eagle eye” for her proofreading skills. Martha’s hobbies included travel, card games, needlework, trivia, reading, and baking. She was especially fond of word play, including Scrabble, crossword puzzles and puns. During retirement, she enjoyed traveling with her husband to many US National Parks, Ireland, England, Greece, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Portugal, Spain and many more destinations.

Martha is survived by her dedicated husband of 55 years; her children Catherine Blatnik (Lawrence) of Okemos, MI, Robert Patchan (Marcia) of Columbia, MD, and Patricia Childs (Nixon) of Grovetown, GA; and her grandchildren Kathryn Patchan, Christopher (Ali) Blatnik, Lauren Blatnik, Julianne Patchan, Maximilian Childs, Dominic Blatnik, and Beatrix Childs. She was predeceased by her brother Thomas S. Pace of McLean, VA.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, Mid-Atlantic Affiliate. http://www.donatenow.heart.org

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