Patricia F. Riggs Strader, 97, of 44 College Avenue, Buckhannon, WV, passed away early Tuesday morning, October 20, at the home of her son, Michael A. Strader, in Toccoa, GA.
Mrs. Strader was born in Buckhannon, WV, on March 24, 1929, to William “Bill” Alexander Riggs and Flora Katherine Tenney of Tallmansville, WV.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, SFC Walter Lee Strader; her sister, Inez Joy Riggs McCourt of Tallmansville, WV; two brothers, David L. Riggs of Spokane County, WA, and James A. Riggs of Spanaway, WA; and her son-in-law, Charles James Poundstone of Buckhannon, WV.
Mrs. Strader is survived by her daughter, Catherine L. Strader Poundstone of Buckhannon, WV; her son and daughter-in-law, Michael A. Strader (Lauren) of Toccoa, GA; her grandson, Joshua B. Lang (Amy) of Jericho, VT; three granddaughters, Brieanne Lang Roman (Scott) of Columbus, OH, Sarah C. Strader (Tristan McKenna) of Quaker Hill, CT, and Dayna Iams Keevan (Ryan) of Charlotte, NC; and eight great-grandchildren, Levon and Sunny Lang of Jericho, VT, Hadley McKinnis, Delaney Roman, Boden and Maddox Roman, all of Columbus, OH, Olivia Keevan of Charlotte, NC, and Hayden McKenna of San Antonio, TX.
She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and their children.
Mrs. Strader was a graduate of Buckhannon-Upshur High School and became a registered nurse after graduating from St. Mary’s Nursing School in Clarksburg, WV, in 1949. She dedicated her professional life to nursing, working in hospitals throughout West Virginia, Kansas, and Michigan before serving as director of the Student Health Center at West Virginia Wesleyan College.
She was a member of Buckhannon Chapter #18 of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Teter Farm Women’s/Extension Homemakers Club (Teters CEOS) of Buckhannon, WV, and the Mt. Carmel Methodist Church Cemetery Committee of Tallmansville, WV. She was also a lifelong member of the Methodist Church.
Mrs. Strader was a loving daughter, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother who held a special place in her heart for the “country roads” of her beloved West Virginia. She never met a stranger, and no matter where she went, she had a remarkable knack for finding someone with a connection to her beloved West Virginia.
She was an avid gardener, RV camper, and football fan. She loved knitting, a passion she passed down to her daughter and granddaughters, and never missed an opportunity to complete a crossword puzzle or watch her afternoon “stories.”
She was also a wonderful cook who enjoyed sharing her favorite recipes with family and friends. A natural storyteller, she delighted in sharing memories of camping adventures, her nursing career, and her many travels.
Services will be handled by Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home of Buckhannon, WV. Interment will be at Mt. Lebanon Church Cemetery in Buckhannon, WV.
