Patty Beach

It is with profound sadness that we have to announce the passing of a wonderful wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. We have lost the matriarch of our entire family. She was our light and our spirit; she truly united us all in love and laughter. We will forever be grateful for her nurturing heart, her grace, her unwavering faith, and unconditional love for all. May she finally be at rest with her Beloved.

Patty Beach, 76, a long-time resident of Hartwood, VA, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on Wednesday, September 20th, 2023. She was born in West Virginia on June 18th, 1947, to Harry and Ethel Richards. Her family moved to Virginia when Patty was in her teens. Virginia is where she remained and built the foundation for her own family.

She lived a meaningful life filled with so much love, kindness, compassion, and resilience. Her time here with us and all of the memories made will never be forgotten. Patty worked for the Washington Post for many, many years. Some of our fondest memories were being a bunch of kids, attempting to stay up all night to deliver papers with her and Woody(her husband) on the weekends. The pay, hot chocolate, and doughnut rewards were worth going without sleep. She always made us feel like we were the best little helpers in the world. Even though we most likely left the papers at the wrong house! She'd never ever tell us though. As an adult, we now know that the bigger reward was simply spending time with her, having that quality time spent talking all night long about life, listening to her life stories, laughing and just having fun with her.

We always had nothing but good times when she was in the room. Even when she was mad, it was laughable. You could crack the tiniest joke, and she'd giggle. She just couldn't stay that way! She had such a soft and caring heart. She'd help anyone that needed it, even if it meant she was giving away her last dime. It was just who she was. If you needed it more than she did, no questions asked, she gave it to you.

In her free time, she enjoyed thrift shopping and crocheting. She loved going to the beach, visiting the mountains, and going on big family vacations. She loved the holidays, making huge dinners, and having the entire family running through her house. She adored her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She spent as much time with them as possible. She truly enjoyed being a Grandma.

She always tried to be positive and supportive. She was honest, trustworthy, and sincere. She tried to do her best and hold her head high when she was faced with her cancer diagnosis. She always managed to conquer all the hardships and keep her faith while doing so. Even in her worst days she still put her family first. We could not ask for a better woman to look up too. Filling her shoes seems impossible. She was one of a kind. She genuinely listened when you were having hard times, she'd hold your hand, kiss it, comfort you, and then give you the greatest, most valuable and life changing advice. She gave the best hugs. She had a loud and contagious laugh and an incredible smile. She was just an amazing, strong, and God-fearing woman. Absolutely irreplaceable. It is hard to fathom even as we write this, that she has left us, to go and walk with the Lord. Losing her has been deeply felt. When she passed, we all lost a piece of ourselves. Her absence, just in the short time she has been gone, has changed us all, more than words can explain. She will always have a place in all of our hearts. Heaven truly has gained the most beautiful soul. She more than deserves her wings and to enjoy her eternal life in the great Heaven's above us, with Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Her memory and love for the family she made will never fade away. She will be missed and loved infinitely.

Patty was preceded in death by her husband, Woodrow Beach, her parents, Harry and Ethel Richards, her sister, Billy Jo Cowan, her granddaughter, Ashley Totten, a great granddaughter, Amiya Totten, and a son in-law Krisofer Brown.

Patty leaves behind four daughters; Traci King, Cheryl Stafford, Lisa Rowe, Christie Brown, and a nephew she loved like a son, Gary Cowan. Grandchildren; Angela Brooks, Matthew Curtis, Jeffrey Bache, Sean Bache, Tonya Totten, Amber Totten, Lindsay Stafford, Matthew Stafford, Robert Stafford, Kaylee Brown, Andrew Brown, Angel Brown, Ashton Hall, Nevaeh Stafford, and 16 great grandchildren.

To know her is to know Love. And to all of those that she loved and touched deeply. Please join us in celebrating her life on Thursday, September 28th at Mullins and Thompson Funeral Service, Stafford Chapel. Visitation will begin at 12:00pm, followed by her service and burial at 1:00pm, where she will finally be laid to rest.

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