Patricia Speers, 80, of Whispering Pines, died Sunday, March 18, 2012, after a very brief illness.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 24, at Boles Funeral Home, Southern Pines, with Pastor Karen Allen officiating.
Trish was born July 7, 1931, in Montclair, N.J., to Wallace C. and Lila K. Speers. She attended Penn Hall in Chambersburg, Pa., and made a career out of banking, retiring after 37 years as a vice president in Chemical Bank.
She moved to Whispering Pines in 1991, becoming an avid walker and active participant in many different areas of the Southern Pines Recreation and Parks division, earning the 1995 Outstanding Volunteer of the Year award for her many different acts of service, be it helping out with the annual Easter Egg hunt, attending day trips, or participating in the local Senior Games of the Pines.
One of her fondest memories and proudest moments was winning not one, but two bronze medals for race walking in the 2001 national Senior Games in Baton Rouge, La. She also served as flag bearer twice, representing North Carolina at both the 1999 National Senior Games in Orlando, Fla., and the 2001 Games in Baton Rouge. She went on to become a valued board member of the NC Senior Games at the state level, being named to the honorary board of advisors in 2009.
When not taking one of her daily four- or five-mile walks with her beloved golden retriever, Luv, Trish was a tireless volunteer for the Sandhills Children’s Center in Southern Pines. She spent every Friday helping with the children, providing lunch for the staff and brightening everyone’s day with her quick wit and bright smile. She proudly displayed many beautiful creations made by various students over the years, loving how they were all inscribed, “To Miss Trish!” She also gave time to St. Joseph of the Pines, calling bingo every Thursday for several years.
Trish loved life, always being active and doing thoughtful things for her many dear friends, earning a certificate of appreciation form Gov. Hunt in 1997 and countless awards for service from various organizations.
She was predeceased by her parents, Wallace C. and Lila K. Speers; sister Lila S. Beauchamp; and niece Kathleen Lanigan. She is survived by her brother, Wallace C. Speers Jr. (Beverly Tull), of Colorado; sister Laura Flynn (Peter), of New Hampshire; brother-in-law Harry L. Beauchamp, of Whispering Pines, nieces Judy Lanigan (John), of Maryland, Wendy Schuck (Robert), of New Jersey, Patricia LaRose (Bruce), of Georgia, Susan Bass (Bradley), of Whispering Pines, and Kelsey Flynn (Jamie), of Massachusetts; nephews Preston Speers (Merrill), of Colorado, Lawrence Beauchamp (Leslie), of Pennsylvania, Grant Beauchamp (Pam), of Pennsylvania, and Peter Flynn Jr. (Andrea), of New York; 19 grand-nieces and nephews; six great-grand-nieces and nephews; and her golden retriever, Luv III.
Memorial contributions may be made to the NC Senior Games Inc., 4603 Western Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27636; or Sandhills Children’s Center, 1280 Central Drive, Southern Pines, NC 28387.