Obituary of Rhoda Patricia Adams

Pat was born in Llanidloes, Wales in 1945. She grew up in the rural Severn Valley, where her father was head forester. Pat was fond of reminiscing about her childhood and had many interesting stories about avoiding the bull in the neighbor’s pasture, reading all the books from the traveling library cart, and growing up without electricity. She moved to the Rhondda Valley at the age of 16, and then to Cardiff to get her degree in physical therapy. Pat emigrated to Ontario, Canada in 1968 and met her husband John in 1969. They were married in 1970 and settled down to have their sons Gareth, David, and Alan. Pat worked as a pediatric physical therapist as she raised their sons,and was active in their church. The family moved to Houston, Texas for John’s work, where Pat shifted her interest to quilting. She worked in a quilt shop for many years, and continued volunteering in the church. In their later years in Texas, she was active in the church’s charity clothing shop, Nearly New. Upon John’s retirement in 2006, they moved to Salem, Oregon, where Pat became involved in another charity clothing store, Helping Hands. She was a powerhouse organizer and fundraiser, combining her passion for helping others and her love of quilting with the annual event Quiltopia, which raised money for Helping Hands. Pat was also an avid gardener and bird watcher. Pat and John moved to Ridgefield, Washington in 2019 to live with family. She devoted her time to caring for her husband John until his passing in 2021 from Alzheimer’s disease, and then to her gardening, quilting, and spending time with her beloved sons and grandchildren. Pat is survived by her oldest son Gareth, his wife Heidi, and their children Bryce and Sami; her middle son David; and her youngest son Alan, his wife Jody, and their children Aderyn and Rowan. She is also survived by her sisters Doris and Margaret, and her brother Cliff. She is preceded in death by her husband John, her parents Tom and Lilian, and her sister May. Pat will be remembered for her unending love and support for her family and friends, her beautiful quilts, her colorful and immaculate garden, and baking – especially Welsh cakes! She touched so many lives and will be dearly missed. To honor Pat’s life and legacy, a small memorial service will be held at Ridgefield United Methodist Church (1410 S Hillhurst Rd) on Saturday, December 17 at 10:00 a.m. There will be a reception at the church to follow.