Patricia White

PATRICIA BELL (PAT) WITTE

Galveston, Texas

Patricia Bell (Pat) Witte, 77, a resident of Baytown, Texas; Dallas, Texas; Galveston, Texas; and Houston, Texas; for the past 46 years, passed away late Thursday evening, June 16, 2016, following complications related to her long battle with Parkinson's disease. Pat was born in Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of the late Herbert and Virginia Bell. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in education from Iowa State University, where she met her husband of 45 years, Robert F. (Bob) Witte, who preceded her in death in 2005.

They moved to the South after their marriage in 1960, when Bob accepted a position with Exxon which lasted nearly 40 years. Pat taught home economics in various urban high schools in both Dayton, Ohio, and Boston, Mass., while supporting Bob during his years in the military and at graduate school. Bob and Pat then settled in Baton Rouge, La., to start their family in the mid-1960s.

In 1970, the family was transferred to Houston where they began their long tenure in Texas. They lived in the Spring area, and in 1974, Bob was transferred to the Exxon Baytown facility, where the family stayed until all three of their children completed high school. In 1992, Bob was transferred to Dallas to help lead the Exxon Education Foundation until his retirement in 2000. They lived in the Las Colinas area, in Hackberry Creek for many years, and Pat returned to Houston last year to live near her eldest daughter.

Pat devoted many years to raising her three children and supporting family activities including many leadership roles at church, school and Camp Fire Girls. She loved making crafts and doing projects, and led an extremely busy life supporting friends and family. She participated in book and garden clubs, and even started a late-in-life career in sales, with several firms including Excelsior Legal.

In retirement, Bob and Pat enjoyed spending time at their beach house on the west end of Galveston in Sea Isle, and with their beloved dogs, Rusty and Ted, as well as a growing number of grandchildren and family.

She is survived by her three children and many grandchildren, Beth and Kirk Bruce of Bellaire, Texas, Rob and Diane Witte of Irving, Texas, and Alison and Mike Reese of Dallas. Grandchildren include Lauren Apollo, Kyle Witte, Karoline Beazley, Ty Witte, Cy Bruce, Thomas Bruce, Sarah Bruce and Joe Reese.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 24, at the Lowden Cemetery with the Rev. Stephen Stepp officiating. Chapman Funeral Home, Clarence, is assisting the family.