Patricia Smith Bagnal

Patsy Bagnal (Patricia Anne Smith Bagnal) was born on April 5, 1934 to the Late Rudolph C. Smith, Sr. & Olive Brown Smith. She had 2 brothers, Allison & Rudolph C. Smith, Jr., who are deceased. She was married to Lt. General Charles Wilson Bagnal for 59 years. She is survived by sons Ruben M. Bagnal (wife Charita), Charles W. Bagnal, Jr. (wife Linda) and Joel B. Bagnal (wife Keegan). She has 8 grandchildren: Katherine Babb (husband Adam), John Bagnal (wife Renata) Jordan Bagnal, Ruchelle Bagnal, Rizza Bagnal Phillips (husband Richard), Raquel Bagnal Vander Wall (husband Kevin), Shannon Bagnal and McKayla Bagnal. She has 5 great grandchildren, Riley Grace, Shiloh, Haven Sage, Cademon James, Burton Matias, Elsie Charita, Louis, Gage David, and Aria Marie.

Patsy was born in Florence, SC and attended public schools there. She was the only person in our high school graduating class of 1952 that never missed a day of school in 12 years. She was a person of unbounding love, good humor, great wit and of grace who was known and loved by all. She was noted as being one of the best dressed girls in school. Her Mother made all of her clothes including gowns for proms. She was voted the most nonchalant in the class of 1952. At the high school graduation ceremony when the principal presented the diploma to her, she kissed her on the mouth and received a standing ovation from all. That was a testimony of how loved and respected she was.

Upon graduation Patsy attended Columbia College for a year and then her Congressman, The Honorable John L. McMillan, at her request, recommended her for a job in Washington, DC to work for the House of Representatives Legislative Council under Speaker of the House, Sam Rayburn. She wanted to work in Washington because her boyfriend, Charles Bagnal, had entered West Point upon graduation from high school and she wanted to be closer to West Point so she could visit him every couple of months. She received the job and she and Charles spent many precious hours together at West Point over the next 2 years. She and Charles fell in love and were married at The West Point Chapel at high noon on June 6, 1956, the day after Charles graduated. So, Patsy became an extraordinary Army wife and traveled with Charles for the next 33 years, except when Charles was in Vietnam for 2 years.

Patsy moved her family 28 times in 33 years. She and Charles were stationed in Fort Sill, Oklahoma two times; San Marcos, Texas; Fort Campbell, Kentucky four times: Fort Wolters, Texas; Augusta, Georgia; Hanau, Germany; Atlanta, Georgia; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Washington, DC three times; Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania; Fort Monroe, Virginia; and Fort Shafter, Hawaii. While in Hawaii, Charles commanded the U.S. Army Western Command and was in charge of all Army forces in the Pacific less Korea. Patsy was able to travel with Charles throughout the Pacific and Indian Ocean areas. Over the years, primarily due to Army service, Patsy has traveled to 108 different Nations.

While in Hanau, Germany in 1959-1962 Patsy became concerned that none of the chapels offered Sunday School classes for nursery school aged children. Of which she had one. So, Patsy contacted the Superintendent of Schools in the Hanau area and arranged for a room; she then contacted the senior Chaplain and made arrangements to get an Army field organ, which she taught herself to play; she then contacted the foreign mission board of the Southern Baptist Convention and got appropriate literature and songs; she then passed the word out and had a flourishing Sunday school. Patsy later taught nursery school for 4 years at a Methodist Church in Chantilly, Virginia.

Another story from Hanau, Germany, along with many others, is etched in my mind. While we were in Germany, our South Carolina driver's licenses expired. There was a provision in the law that allowed automatic renewal for a military person; but there was no such proviso for spouses.

Patsy worked through military channels to no avail but she was not going to let this stand. She wrote Senator Thurmond and told him that the only reason she was in Germany was because she was married to me and that she and the other spouses were an important part of the military. About 3 weeks later she received her driver's license in the mail.

At the age of 49 when Charles was in charge of enlisted training for the Army and was away from home most of the time Patsy traveled from Fort Monroe to Washington, DC to attend 2 more years of college at American University. While Charles was Assistant Division Commander of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky Patsy was a member of the school board along with Colin Powell. When Charles was Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division Patsy formed the first Family Action Council to ensure that soldier's families were properly taken care of during extended deployments of their spouses or in the event of death or other emergency situations. This became a model for the U.S. Army. During the 4 years of Charles' command of Western Command, Patsy had exactly 100 dinner parties for visiting dignitaries. She entertained the first visit of the Peoples Republic of China military to include 2 of the politburo members. General Fred Weyand, former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, who was a frequent dinner guest, said that Patsy set and served the best table in the Pacific.

Upon Charles' retirement from the U.S. Army in 1989 Patsy was awarded the Decoration for Distinguished Civilian Service, which is the highest award that the Secretary of the Army may grant to a private citizen.

Patsy's love for God and her neighbors was at the heart of all that she did. As a result God granted her wisdom, exceptionable charm, the ability of entertainment to the nth degree, grace in all aspects of her life, and the ability to bring joy to the lives of all with whom she came in contact.

Upon Charles' retirement from the Army Patsy found her employment niche at First Baptist Church in Columbia for 10 years. She was the receptionist and assistant office manager. I cannot tell you the great number of people who have consistently complimented Patsy as the best receptionist that First Baptist ever had.

Maybe the best way to summarize her life is by the following:

1. Most people on their 80th birthday want to have a lavish party in their honor. Not Patsy. She chose to invite 10 ladies, most older, who had made a difference in her life to a lavish luncheon which she prepared in their honor.

2. About 25 years ago a friend sent her a beautiful glass blue bird with a note that said, "Thank you for all the joy you bring to others."

3. A note from a friend that says: "I want to express my gratefulness for the model you have been to me and the blessing you have been to all of us as you navigate life with such grace. Thank you for living life with integrity, character and godliness. I admire you – you haven't wasted your life but invested your life in others."

4. "Patsy you are such a sweet generous person and look after all your friends - one of whom I am glad to be."

5. Patsy's son, Ruben, wrote: ''The older I get the more I realize how much it means to be your son. You have given me values to live by and encouraged me to make decisions on my own. And you've shown me the importance of earning the respect of others and putting family first."

6. Our youngest son, Joel, wrote this to his Mother when he was 9: "You dear heart sets me up. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a cup. When I feel low you always tie me in a bow. You're such a pretty and lovely mother and sometimes you make a good brother. What I'm trying to say is I love you."

7. One friend said: "Some people knock on the door of our lives, come right in and make themselves at home in our hearts, and we are better, so much better for having them there."

8. When our son, Charles, Jr. was 7 to 10 years old we lived in Atlanta. Charles captured the essence of his Mother at that early age and put it to paper years later in a poem called Casserole for the Garbage Man:

My mother heard what others did not hear, As once each week a heavy truck stopped by The bottom of our concrete stairs to sigh,

To moan with heaving mounds of odor there

And add more from our last mute week of wear; She heard the hungry and thirsty near.

I saw the red-haired grin that lit the path

To what she felt that others did not feel;

She touched the stranger's hands with simple meal That made his naked family one of ours,

And clothed the mighty soul that this empowers to see the maimed made whole from humble math. My mother moved where others did not move, Between the pines with heavy pots of food

Enough to make the scent of gratitude

Flow gently by where now the lame could walk, And we could visit with the sick and talk; imprisoned minds would now their chains remove. I watched the hands that fed me feed another, For what she saw that others did not see;

For now we'd be who we were meant to be,

Once done, the truck's unburdened heart would go, Blind eyes next week came seeing back to know

I saw the Master there beside my mother.

It is almost Impossible for me to tell you how much of a positive impact Patsy had on my life before and after our 59+ years of marriage. She has been a loving and caring wife, a wonderful mother, a talented helpmate, contributed so much to the lives of soldiers and their families and made each place better where she lived in a social and spiritual way. She was gracious, kind, caring, compassionate, loving and could be stern when necessary but always in a respectful manner. As enumerated herein God gave Patsy many talents which she used for His glory. Hebrews 13:2 says "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." Patsy has entertained many angels over the years and they have been blessed as well as us. She was a missionary for God in every sense of the word.

Patsy will be interred at the United States Military Academy Cemetery at West Point, New York with her husband, Charles. Memorials may be sent to First Baptist Church, Columbia, SC.