Patricia L. Holsworth

Patricia (Pat) L. Holsworth, age 79, passed away quietly at her home in Oberlin on Wednesday, November 16, 2016. She was born on May 2, 1937 in Emporia, Kansas to Beatrice (Phillips) Arnold and Lewis Arnold. She graduated as valedictorian in 1954 from Wiley High School in Colorado and cum laude with a degree in mathematics from Anderson College in Indiana in 1958. She earned a master's degree in library science from Case Western Reserve University in 1970. In 1957 Pat married Richard Holsworth, her college sweetheart. Together they had two sons, Richard Jr. and Edwin.

Pat enjoyed a 20 year career as a public library administrator with the Cuyahoga County Public Library and The Oberlin Public Library.

After retirement Pat was active with the Oberlin Heritage Center in a variety of roles including president of that organization. Pat had a passion for genealogy and, along with her husband, received in 2006 The Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums Outstanding Achievement Award recognizing their enormous contribution to the study and preservation of local history. In 2008 she received a Certificate of Appreciation from the 150^th Anniversary of the Oberlin Wellington Rescue Committee and in 2014 Pat received the Award for Distinguished Service to the Community from Oberlin College. Pat was an Oberlin Rotarian since 1991 and served as president 2004-2005.

She is survived by her beloved husband Richard, sons, Richard Jr. and Edwin, daughter-in-law Caxixi and grandchildren Kaitlin and Severin. A memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Friday, December 2, 2016 at the Cowling Funeral Home, 228 South Main Street in Oberlin, Ohio. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to the Oberlin Heritage Center and the Oberlin Rotary.

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