Born: Oct. 7, 1927

Died: Aug. 23, 2012

Patricia Joan Hipshear, 84, formerly of Mayflower Road, Niles, died Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012, at Morningside Nursing and Memory Center in South Bend.

She was born Oct. 7, 1927, in Benton Harbor to William and Ida (Hill) Wallace. On March 27, 1946, in Greencastle, Ind., she married Wallace L. “Wally” Hipshear. He preceded her in death on Nov. 30, 2011.

Patricia graduated from Saint Joseph Academy in Saint Augustine, Fla., and retired from Niles Community Schools, where she was a secretary. She was a member of the Southwestern Michigan Running Club and an active member of the National Toothpick Holder Society, having collected over 1,500 unique toothpick holders. She enjoyed sewing, doll making and antiques. She was also a member of the Bend of the River Conservation Club.

Patricia is survived by her daughters, Sharon (Thomas) Prusinski, of South Bend, and Debra (Dewayne) Proctor, of Union; her son, Bruce (Suzanne) Hipshear, of Buchanan; grandchildren Sandra, Todd, Tabatha and Chelsea; and great-grandchildren Payton, Breanna, Thoran, Dakota and Mia. She is also survived by brother William Wallace, of Houston, Texas, and sister Val Melloh of Coco, Fla.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wallace, grandson, Trent, and her brother, Donald.

Funeral services for Patricia Joan Hipshear will be held 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 27, 2012, at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Chaplain Joseph Emmerth, of Southern Care Hospice, officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family received relatives and friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26, at the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Patricia may be made to Southern Care Hospice.