Obituaries – Their Stories Live On

Mrs. Patricia Ann Penn “Mrs. Patty” died from a long illness August 23, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio.

Patricia was born November 20, 1941, in Winding Gulf West Virginia to Ernest White and Ernestine Kessler.

Patricia attended Collins High in Oak Hill, West Virginia. After school she worked at Montgomery Wards in Beckley. When she left there, she went to Beckley Hospital in Mabscott, where she retired from. Patricia met and married Robert Phares II in 1958 and had nine children together. Patricia later met and married Nathaniel Penn in 1996. Before she left WV, she was a member of Pleasant Valley Baptist Church where she was a Soloist, Youth Matron, and a Kitchen Hostess. She later joined Ebeneezer Baptist Church of Virginia Beach, VA.

Patricia had a love for singing in church, enjoyed listing to music, reading and spending time with her family and drinking her Pepsi.

Patricia, in addition to her parents, was proceed in death by her husband Nathaniel, three brothers, William Laster, Gregory Laster, and Ernest Laster, sister, Sylvia Tucker; children, Robert Phares III, and Carolyn Phares, granddaughter, LaTease Phares and grandson, David Evans Jr.

Patricia leaves to cherish her memory, Carlis Phares of Columbus, OH, Carnella (Augustine)Wallace of Atlanta, GA, Michael (Angie) Phares of Columbus, OH, William (Rosa) Phares of Virginia Beach, VA, Anthony (Yolanda) Phares of Columbus, OH, Coretta Phares of South Point, OH, and Bryant (Tara) Phares of Columbus, OH; sister, Teresa Grasty of Wilmington, DE and Juan (Rene) Laster of Washington DC; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews and cousins.

Funeral service will be 12:00PM Wednesday, September 6, 2023 at Outreach for Christ Christian Center 416 G St. Beckley with Rev. David Allen officiating. Burial will follow in Gethsemane Memorial Gardens, Oak Hill.

Friends, while wearing masks and observing social distancing, may view and visit with the family one hour prior to the funeral service.

Email condolences to ritchiejohnsonfuneralparlor@gmail.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.