Daughter of Rose and Ted Koch, Pat was born in Nashville, and grew up with brother Theodore. At an early age, she lost her father to cancer. Rose then married Joe Rotella, who had two children, Ann and Joe. The family moved to a home on Hedrick Street in Nashville. Pat attended West High, where she was introduced to the game of tennis. After mastering the game, she achieved two city titles at the Centennial complex. While studying at Belmont, she met Warren Johnson, an outstanding basketball star, who she married before completing her studies there. Pat landed an accounting position at GMAC, and with two sons, Warren and Jeff, completed a 32 year career. After her work there, prompted by her mother Rose, she went back to Belmont to complete her accounting degree.
And because she had maintained an extremely sharp tennis game, she landed on the Belmont tennis team at age 59, becoming the oldest NCAA active athlete in the USA. She player number four position singles, and won five matches. She completed her degree in 1993, then joined her son Jeff's flooring company, Jeffco Flooring and Supply, where she served as accountant until 2007. During that time, she trained and completed the Country Music Marathon(26.2) in 2001.
In the Fall of 2007, five years after Warren Sr. passed, she experienced a debilitating hemmorrhagic stroke. Pat was down, but not out! Through grit and determination, she was able to not only get back on her feet, but completed multiple half marathons with her loving friend and neighbor Bich Thu Johnson.
And after multiple subsequent strokes, and fighting back with extensive therapy sessions, she was overcome by an unsurvivable stroke. Pat was a joy to be around by her family, friends, and medical professionals. In live, she mastered a hidden talent in writing humorous scripts and melodies for special events and holidays. She inspired more people than she ever knew, and will be deeply missed by all.
Patricia was preceded in death by mother and father, Rose and Joe Rotella, brother Theodore, and husband Warren. She was survived by siblings Ann Riddle and Joe Rotella, sons Warren (Leigh, deceased) and Jeff (Renee), grandchildren, Argie Campbell (Matt), Clay Johnson (Brandy), and Ashlyn Johnson. Her surviving great-grandchildren are Argie Virginia, Charlotte, Milly, Wells, and Eliza.
Visitation with family will start at 12:30 PM Friday the 21st. at First Lutheran Church on 8th Avenue in Nashville. Celebration of life will occur at 2:00, then burial will follow for family at Woodlawn Cemetery on Thompson Lane. Please use provided parking at Demonbreun St. lot.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Room in the Inn would be much appreciated.
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