Dayhoff Westminster Soundtrack: Patricia Richter Amass, 78, of Westminster, died Monday April 28, 2014

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Patricia Richter Amass, 78, of Westminster, died Monday April 28, 2014

Patricia Richter Amass, 78, of Westminster, died Monday April 28, 2014 at the Carroll Hospice Dove House. Born June 28, 1935 in Baltimore, she was the daughter of the late Marjorie McWilliams, Elementary School Teacher and Homemaker and Gerald E. Richter, Principal, Administrator and Superintendent of schools in Talbot County.

She was the wife of Dr. Arnold “Skip” Amass, her husband of 57 years.

Patricia lived her whole life in Carroll County, starting in Manchester, MD where her father was Principal of the old Manchester School grades 1 through 11. At the age of 9, she moved to Westminster, MD when her father became Principal of Westminster High School. She graduated from Westminster High School in 1953, participating in many school activities such as band, student government, and editor of the yearbook.

Patricia attended Western Maryland College (McDaniel College) and graduated in 1957. At Western Maryland College she was President of the Student Christian Association, President of Phi Delta Sorority and an Argonaut. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with honors in History for which she received the DAR lifetime membership award. She continued her graduate studies at Western Maryland College receiving her Masters in Education. She continued further studies at Hood College. Patricia served for a period of time as an Adjunct Professor at Western Maryland College in the Education Department.

Patricia started her career as a 3rd grade teacher at the East End Elementary School for 13 years. She then became supervisor of Early Childhood Educational Programs in Carroll County, such as, Head Start and Title 1.

She was active in community activities commencing with the Junior Women’s Club of Westminster where she served as President and coordinated an after school program to teach Foreign Languages to elementary school children. With the Women’s Club of Westminster, she participated in the “Used Book Program”, the money from which was used to purchase Dr. Seuss books for the elementary schools.

Patricia was a charter member of the Bonds Meadow Rotary Club and served a term as the first woman President. The Rotary Club honored her with three Paul Harris Awards, one for her founding and service to the club, one for her community activities of the club and the other for international service to Rotary. She was instrumental in a program to eradicate River Blindness in Tanzania, Africa. She also conceived and organized along with IMA (International Medical Assistance in New Windsor, MD) a program of Safe Motherhood Kits which are distributed to women in third world countries to allow them to have sterile and safe births of their children.

Patricia’s faith was very strong and her activities in the Westminster Methodist Church especially the United Methodist Women where she was a district delegate promoting Safe Motherhood Kits. She had the women knitting baby blankets and knit caps to be included in the kits. She also taught a weekly bible study group.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Gerald A. Amass and a fiancée Robin Wardenfelt of Westminster, a grandson, Jordan Scott Amass of Westminster and numerous cousins.

She was predeceased by a son John “Jack” Amass in 2001.

The family will receive friends on Friday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 at the Fletcher Funeral & Cremation Services, 254 E. Main Street, Westminster.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Westminster United Methodist Church, 165 E. Main Street, Westminster with Rev. Mark Smiley. Private interment will follow at the Meadow Branch Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Westminster United Methodist Church, 165 E. Main Street, Westminster, MD 21157 or Carroll Hospice, 292 Stoner Avenue, Westminster, MD 21157.

http://www.fletcherfuneralhome.net/obits/obituary.php?id=468030

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