Patricia Becker

Joan Patricia Warren Becker, 91, of Winston-Salem, NC, passed away on March 14, 2022. Pat was born on July 17, 1930, to Edgar Warren Sr., and Jeanette Falls Warren of Winston-Salem, NC. After Pat graduated from Reynolds High School in 1948, she went on to study at the Women’s College of UNC (now UNC Greensboro).

After graduating with a B.A. in Physics (minor in Mathematics), she worked for three years for Western Electric Co., editing schematic and wiring diagrams for technical manuals. Returning to school at UNC Chapel Hill in 1955, she obtained her M.S. in Library Science (minor in Mathematics) and went on to work in the Union Carbide Nuclear Co. and Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies libraries in Oak Ridge, TN, and the NC State Library of Raleigh, NC, from 1957-1965. From 1965-1970, she set up and was manager of the Systems Development Division Laboratory Library of IBM Corporation in Raleigh. She published several bibliographies, including one of the first that addressed laser technology.

Pat was married to Stanley Edward Becker, from Louisville, KY, on July 19, 1959, in Winston-Salem, NC. Stan worked as a design engineer at Oak Ridge, and later was a Mechanical Engineering professor at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Once Stan became a professor, Pat quit working so that she could travel with him during his teaching breaks. They had a great love of Hilton Head Island, SC, and the American Southwest.

Meals were something Pat and Stan relished. They enjoyed wine tastings, both as participants and judges. They had a love of great food and a knack for finding restaurants that were hidden gems. In their annual trips to New Mexico, Pat developed a deep love of its natural landscapes, art, and regional cooking. Everywhere she and Stan went, they developed lasting friendships and connections.

Pat was an avid reader and particularly enjoyed the mysteries of Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayer. For years she and Stan enjoyed swimming and kayaking, and they loved watching the America’s cup races. She was a disciplined knitter, providing all kinds of gifts for family and friends. She had an abiding zest for life, food, fine art, jazz, and company.

Pat loved cats and Norwegian Elkhounds and entered one of her dogs in several dog shows. Pat had a stubborn streak along with a great sense of humor. She was a devoted wife, sister, aunt, a faithful friend, and an altogether generous and lovely person.

Pat was predeceased by her husband, Stanley. She is survived by her brother, Edgar Warren Jr. (Nora), of Winston-Salem, NC, two nieces, Laura Miller (Bill) of Winston-Salem, and Janet Becker Hardin of Cleveland, SC, two nephews, Bradley Warren of Webster Springs, WV, and Michael Becker (Karen) of Hewitt, TX, four grandnieces, five grandnephews, five great grandnieces, and six great grandnephews.

Services will be held at Eastern Tennessee Veterans Cemetery on March 28, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.frankvoglerandsonsclemmons.com for the Becker family.