Patricia "Pat" Hamill Teale French

October 27, 1926 - January 10, 2020

Heishman Funeral Home Inc. sends condolences to the family of Patricia "Pat" Hamill Teale French. Patricia “Pat” Hamill Teale French, 93, of Woodstock, Virginia died Friday, January 10, 2020, at her home. Pat was born on October 17, 1926, in Baltimore, Maryland, the first of two children of the late Gladys Adelaide Hamill Teale and Edward Painter Teale. She was a member of the Class of 1943 of Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, Virginia and attended Harcum Junior College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. After college, she worked in a division office of AT&T Long Lines in Washington, DC, where she met her future husband Warren Ballinger French, Jr. Pat’s greatest pride was her family. She married Warren on September 17, 1949, in Silver Spring, Maryland. In the fall of 2019, they celebrated their 70th year of marriage. They were the parents of four children. Pat was predeceased by her son Warren Ballinger French, III, who passed away on April 19, 1981. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her three remaining children and their spouses: Anne Elizabeth French Dalke and Jeffrey Alan Dalke of Philadelphia and Edinburg; Cynthia Ellen French Mullen and Wesley Grigg Mullen, Jr. of Rockbridge Baths; and Christopher Edward French and Rhonda Harris French of Woodstock. Pat is also survived by her grandchildren and their spouses: Lena French Dalke and Sameer Gupta of Brooklyn; Lillian Stover Dalke and Angelina Lim of Brooklyn; Samuel Shaffer Dalke and Katharine Baratz Dalke of Harrisburg; Marian Ballinger Dalke and Elizabeth Nadia Pisarczyk of Philadelphia; Wesley Grigg Mullen, III and Accacia Max Mullen of Rockbridge Baths; Andrew French Mullen and Melissa Ann Falkenstern of Albuquerque; Rebecca Blythe French of Harrisonburg; Warren Ballinger French, II of Woodstock; and Stuart Teale French and Tiffany Marie French of Harrisonburg. Five great-grandchildren also survive her: Naima Belle Dalke Gupta, Mahalia Vati Dalke Gupta, Andy Bo Tian Dalke-Lim, Julia Baratz Dalke, and Audrey French Dalke. She is also survived by her brother Robert “Bob” Edward Teale and his wife Carol Rogers Teale of Lincoln, Nebraska; her sisters-in-law Doris French, Emma Randel, Marian French, Ellen Fuller, Joyce French and Sally Weber; her brother-in-law John Weber; and many, many nieces and nephews. In addition to being a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Pat was an active supporter of her church and an advocate for her local community. She became a member of the Woodstock United Methodist Church in 1954, later served as a member of its Board of Trustees and the Administrative Council, and was active in the church’s Tape Ministry, Food Pantry, and Clothes Closet. She was a member of the Shenandoah Garden Club, where she served as the corresponding secretary. Pat’s love of children and reading led to her involvement in and support of libraries at the town, county, and state levels. She served on the Board of the Woodstock Library and was appointed by Virginia Governors Godwin and Dalton for five-year terms on the State Library Board of the Virginia State Library, serving as chairman for one year. Pat also worked to gain the support of the Shenandoah County Supervisors for the creation of the Shenandoah County Library, which opened in 1985 and led to the creation of the Shenandoah County Library System. She served two terms on that board. Pat was also involved in the founding of the Shenandoah Community Foundation in 1999. As well as being an avid reader, Pat was a world traveler, having enjoyed trips to six of the seven continents, only missing Antarctica. She most cherished her travels with her daughters and her annual “Girls Getaway” weekends with all the “girls” in the family to celebrate her birthdays. She also enjoyed playing bridge with friends and was a member of The Tennis Forever Gang, playing tennis into her 80s as long as there were younger players who could retrieve the tennis balls. Pat’s love also extended to her in-laws and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. She started many family traditions: making handcrafted Christmas stockings for these family members, hosting Christmas Eve dinners for the whole French family, and a wedding brunch for each of her nieces who were married in the local area. There will be a private graveside service for family, with interment at Massanutten Cemetery, Woodstock. Pallbearers will be Pat’s grandchildren and their spouses. A public memorial service will be conducted Sunday, January 19, 2020, at 3:00 pm at Woodstock United Methodist Church with Pastor Robert N. Hoskins, Jr. officiating. Immediately following the memorial service, there will be a reception at French Brothers Cabin, Woodstock. The family would like to thank the many, many loving caregivers who attended to Pat during the final weeks of her life. Pat requested there be no online condolences. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her name to the Shenandoah County Library Foundation (designated for children’s books), 514 Stoney Creek Blvd, Edinburg, VA 22824; the Shenandoah Community Foundation, PO Box 31, Woodstock, VA 22664; or Woodstock United Methodist Church, 154 South Muhlenberg Street, Woodstock, VA 22664. Arrangements are in the care of Heishman Funeral Home, Inc., Valley Funeral Service Branch in Edinburg, Virginia.