Patricia "Pat" Andrews passed away September 1, 2021, at the age of 99, in her home in Birmingham, Michigan. She was born November 5, 1921, to Jacob Van Wagoner and Winifred Reid. She was known throughout the community and across generations as a tireless teacher and historian. A longtime resident, she moved to Birmingham in 1943 as an elementary school teacher and worked at Pierce, Quarton, and Midvale schools over many years, with a passion for history and social studies. Even after retirement, she endeavored to share how Birmingham and Michigan have grown and changed over the years. Regarded as the "undisputed, unequalled, unofficial historian of all things Birmingham," she compiled several volumes on the history of each house in the Quarton Lake Estates, updated them as families would move in and out, and was always glad to share her research with new neighbors, hoping to help them connect with their new community and its history. Always turning every situation into an opportunity to teach, when she stopped driving in her later years, she turned her garage into a small, local museum. By her 99th birthday, over a thousand visitors were recorded in the museum's guestbook, ranging from neighbors to visitors from across the country.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Jacob Van Wagoner and Winifred Reid; her sisters, Virginia and Hildegard; and her husband, Edward Andrews. She is survived by her children, Edward II (Mary Ann) and Julie; her grandchildren: Edward III (Marcie), Brian (Shelby), Michael (Emily), and Jonathan (Shuai), Nathaniel, Christopher (Amanda), Benjamin; and her great-grandchildren, Edward IV, Amara, Savannah, and Isabella.
A memorial service will be scheduled in the future. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alma College's Future Teacher Scholarship, the Birmingham Fire Station No. 2 (1600 W. Maple Road) and its adjacent park, or Oakland County's Grace Centers of Hope.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Jacob Van Wagoner and Winifred Reid; her sisters, Virginia and Hildegard; and her husband, Edward Andrews. She is survived by her children, Edward II (Mary Ann) and Julie; her grandchildren: Edward III (Marcie), Brian (Shelby), Michael (Emily), and Jonathan (Shuai), Nathaniel, Christopher (Amanda), Benjamin; and her great-grandchildren, Edward IV, Amara, Savannah, and Isabella.
A memorial service will be scheduled in the future. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alma College's Future Teacher Scholarship, the Birmingham Fire Station No. 2 (1600 W. Maple Road) and its adjacent park, or Oakland County's Grace Centers of Hope.
Patricia "Pat" Andrews passed away September 1, 2021, at the age of 99, in her home in Birmingham, Michigan. She was born November 5, 1921, to Jacob Van Wagoner and Winifred Reid. She was known throughout the community and across generations as a tireless teacher and historian. A longtime resident, she moved to Birmingham in 1943 as an elementary school teacher and worked at Pierce, Quarton, and Midvale schools over many years, with a passion for history and social studies. Even after retirement, she endeavored to share how Birmingham and Michigan have grown and changed over the years. Regarded as the "undisputed, unequalled, unofficial historian of all things Birmingham," she compiled several volumes on the history of each house in the Quarton Lake Estates, updated them as families would move in and out, and was always glad to share her research with new neighbors, hoping to help them connect with their new community and its history. Always turning every situation into an opportunity to teach, when she stopped driving in her later years, she turned her garage into a small, local museum. By her 99th birthday, over a thousand visitors were recorded in the museum's guestbook, ranging from neighbors to visitors from across the country.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Jacob Van Wagoner and Winifred Reid; her sisters, Virginia and Hildegard; and her husband, Edward Andrews. She is survived by her children, Edward II (Mary Ann) and Julie; her grandchildren: Edward III (Marcie), Brian (Shelby), Michael (Emily), and Jonathan (Shuai), Nathaniel, Christopher (Amanda), Benjamin; and her great-grandchildren, Edward IV, Amara, Savannah, and Isabella.
A memorial service will be scheduled in the future. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alma College's Future Teacher Scholarship, the Birmingham Fire Station No. 2 (1600 W. Maple Road) and its adjacent park, or Oakland County's Grace Centers of Hope.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Jacob Van Wagoner and Winifred Reid; her sisters, Virginia and Hildegard; and her husband, Edward Andrews. She is survived by her children, Edward II (Mary Ann) and Julie; her grandchildren: Edward III (Marcie), Brian (Shelby), Michael (Emily), and Jonathan (Shuai), Nathaniel, Christopher (Amanda), Benjamin; and her great-grandchildren, Edward IV, Amara, Savannah, and Isabella.
A memorial service will be scheduled in the future. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alma College's Future Teacher Scholarship, the Birmingham Fire Station No. 2 (1600 W. Maple Road) and its adjacent park, or Oakland County's Grace Centers of Hope.
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See more Andrews or Van Wagoner memorials in:
- Greenwood Cemetery Andrews or Van Wagoner
- Birmingham Andrews or Van Wagoner
- Oakland County Andrews or Van Wagoner
- Michigan Andrews or Van Wagoner
- USA Andrews or Van Wagoner
- Find a Grave Andrews or Van Wagoner
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