Patricia Troyer

Patricia Ann (Duke) Troyer, 77, a resident of rural Albion went to her heavenly one at 6:45 p. m. on Saturday, September 14, 2013, at North Ridge Village Nursing Home in Albion. Pat was born on November 20, 1935 in Columbus, Georgia to Rev. J. C. and Alma Frances (Morgan) Duke, and was married in Albion on July 2, 1960 to Everett E. Troyer. After obtaining an associate degree from Central Wesleyan College (now Southern Wesleyan University) in Central, South Carolina, she graduated with a bachelor's degree from Marion College (now Indiana Wesleyan University) in Marion. She later earned her master's degree in secondary education from Ball State University in Muncie. Her career as a public school teacher spanned a period of 35 years, teaching in Noble County her entire career. She first taught at Wawaka and Kendallville High Schools, but spent most of her career at Central Noble High School and Central Noble Middle School, retiring in 1995. Pat was a member of the Albion Wesleyan Church for most of her adult life, where she enjoyed teaching Sunday School and playing the piano. She also served in numerous positions at the church including VBS director and serving on the church board. She treated her family as friends and her friends as family, and enjoyed creating needlework gifts for them. Pat like to attend the gospel music concerts of The Gaithers, The Cathedrals, and Legacy Five. She was also and Indianapolis Colts and Pacers fan. She is survived by her husband Everett; her daughters Pam (Larry) Ellet of Howe and Sonya (Gregory) Ward of Evans, Georgia; her grandchildren Ross (Sara) Ellet and Jordan (Roxanne) Ellet, Justine (J.) Wise, Declan Ward and Lucy Ward; her great-grandchildren Bryce, Simon, and Cohen Ellet, and Solomon Wise; two brothers Perry Duke of Anderson, South Carolina and James (Aiko) Duke of Camak, Georgia; and her sister Sue (Rev. Dr. Ray) Barnwell of West Union, South Carolina. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a brother Paul Duke; and a granddaughter Lindsay Ellet. Funeral services will be held at 2 p. m. on Thursday, September 19, 2013, in the Albion Wesleyan Church with Pastor David Sheffield and Rev. Dr. Ray Barnwell, officiating. The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Wednesday from 2 to 8 p. m., or at the church one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in the Sweet Cemetery, Albion. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the Indiana Wesleyan University Alumni Association, or the Alzheimer's Association. *********** ***********************