Obituary: Patricia Ann (Dodge) Sinclair (Aug. 20, 1923-Jan. 5, 2010)

Patricia Ann (Dodge) Sinclair

Aug. 20, 1923 - Jan. 5, 2010

Patricia Ann (Dodge) Sinclair died peacefully the evening of Jan. 5, attended by her loving family and the compas-sionate staff of Sutter Coast Hospital.  She succumbed to the respiratory disease that had dulled her energy—though not her fierce spirit—over the last several years.  With a contentment rooted deeply in faith, she accepted that it was time to move on, and did so with her customary determination, good humor, and grace.

 She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Naomi Cassel; her first husband, David Henry Dodge; and the younger of their two children, Robert Dodge.  She is survived by her husband, John Sinclair; her son, James Dodge, and his wife, Victoria; her grandson, Jason Stockley Dodge; her dear sisters, Berta (Moratto) Swanson and Betty Blagden; an array of nephews and nieces, including Michael, Jack, and Larry Moratto; Teresa Kalata; Candy Kathey; and Christa Fullan; as well as other relatives and friends close to her heart:  Ston Yackamouih and wife, Jeri; Mary Goven; Janet Gibbens; Jane Daley; the “girls” in various bridge clubs and women’s groups; and many others.

 Patricia was born in Brookings and attended first grade in the one-room schoolhouse in Pistol River.  In fall of 1931, when the Cassel family moved to Crescent City, she and her sisters were among the first classes in Crescent Elk Grammar School.  She attended Del Norte High through her junior year, but finished her formal education at Santa Rosa High, graduating with the class of 1940 just as Germany invaded France.  When her beau, Dave Dodge, enlisted in the Army Air Corps, Patricia moved to San Francisco to work in the payroll department at Benicia Arsenal.  When Dave returned to the States in late 1943—having flown 58 missions as a bomber pilot in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy—they married and moved to his new post in Texas, returning to Santa Rosa when he was discharged several months later.  James was born in Santa Rosa early in 1945; Bob was born 16 months later in Fort Dick.  Soon after the start of the Korean War in 1950, Dave was recalled to active duty as a flight instructor at Randolph Field, Texas.

 Given the likelihood of continuing conflict, Dave decided to make a career as an Air Force officer.  Thus began the peripatetic life of a military family, changing bases every few years:  from San Antonio, Texas, to Goose Bay, Labrador, to Fort Warren in Cheyenne, and finally into the missile program at Vandenberg AFB in Lompoc.

 When Dave received a medical discharge in 1959, the family settled in Santa Rosa.  Patricia worked as a payroll secretary for the school district over the next 15 years while the boys finished college and Dave served as the building supervisor for Paul Wright Construction.  When Dave died suddenly in 1976, Patricia retired to Crescent City to help care for her elderly mother.  She subsequently married John Sinclair, also widowed and recently retired, and they spent the next 20 years traveling the western states in their motor home, with occasional longer jaunts to more exotic locations—like Spain and Hawaii—mixed in.

 When not on the road, Patricia and John worked in their extensive garden, greenhouse, and large sunroom, growing veget-ables, berries, and flowers, the latter a particular favorite throughout Patricia’s life.

 Besides travel and gardening, Patricia enjoyed cooking (though not quite as much as eating, she claimed), playing cards (especially bridge and poker), and seldom missed a bingo game.  She also enjoyed fishing, beach-combing, reading murder mysteries and biographies, and animals of all kinds, whether pets or wild.

 Whatever the day offered or demanded, she was up early and got right on it, bringing a contagious enthusiasm to whatever activity engaged her.  As tough as she was sweet, all who knew her will sorely miss Patricia’s good company.

 Because she believed that every moment can open on glory, that sorrow should be survived, not indulged, that taking losses is simply part of living, and because she could never tolerate a lot of fret and fuss, Patricia adamantly requested no funeral service, suggesting instead the family and friends take a moment to feel grateful for what they do have and to spread that gratitude around.

 Family and close friends are welcome to witness Patricia’s burial on Monday, Jan. 11, at 1:00 p.m. at the Smith River Cemetery, though again there will be no service.

 Memorials can be made in Patricia’s name to your favorite charity.

 Wier’s Mortuary Chapel in Crescent City is directing the arrangements.

Submitted by Wier’s Mortuary Chapel

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