Patricia Leeds Lambeth

Patricia Leeds Lambeth, 66, died at Lynchburg General Hospital on August 18, 2010, after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. She was born September 16, 1943, in St. Joseph, Missouri, the beloved daughter of Sylvia and the late Selwyn Leeds. She attended both the University of Missouri and George Washington University, graduating from the latter institution with a degree in political science.

Ms. Lambeth was foremost a caring and devoted mother and grandmother. In keeping with her studies, Ms. Lambeth’s first love was politics, and for many years she worked on numerous political campaigns and in government. She played an instrumental role in the election of Gerald Baliles as both Attorney General and Governor of Virginia, and served as his Special Assistant for Constituent Affairs. She also helped in the election of Congressman Jim Olin and served as District Representative in his Lynchburg office. After retiring from politics, she worked for a number of years as a realtor at both Coldwell Banker Forehand & Co. and at Marks Realty Co.

Ms. Lambeth was very involved in civic affairs and her community. She served on the boards of the Academy of Music, the Virginia School of the Arts, and the Virginia Museum of Natural History, as well as on the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women. In her later years, she adopted an abandoned dog, Pearl, which she trained to be a registered therapy dog; together they brought comfort and support to many at hospitals, retirement homes, and schools.

When Ms. Lambeth was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she approached fighting the disease with the same indefatigable spirit that she brought to every other endeavor. Throughout her eight year battle, she remained the same cheerful, confident, strong woman that her family and friends knew her to be throughout her life.

In addition to her mother, Ms. Lambeth is survived by her son, Jason Albert, and his wife, Katie, of Redmond, Washington; a grandson, Simon Albert; her sister, Cathy Schubert, and her husband and two daughters, Sarah and Anna, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and many cousins throughout the country.

Funeral services will be held at Meierhoffer Funeral Home in St. Joseph, Missouri, on August 23, 2010, at 1:00 PM with Rabbi Mel Silverman officiating. Burial will follow at Temple Adath Jospeh Cemetery in St. Joseph, Missouri. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, August 25, 2010 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM at Whitten Timberlake Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her name to the Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, Utah 84741 or to the Marcia Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research, 801 Broadway, Suite 701, Seattle, Washington 98122.

To send a condolence to the family, please visit whittenfuneralhome.com.

Whitten Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Timberlake Chapel is serving the Lambeth family.