Browse the obituary of Patricia Buchanan Cogbill January 9 1927 December 11 2022 residing in Richmond, Virginia for funeral burial details. Write a message of sympathy or a last tribute to perpetue the friendship thread
January 9 1927 December 11 2022
Obituary Patricia, to her parents, and “Pat” to her beloved husband, came into the world on January 9, 1927 in Richmond, Va. She was the youngest child of J. Leo Buchanan and Anna Morgan Buchanan. She lived her entire childhood and teenage years on Park Avenue just across from Albert Hill Middle School. When she fell for the good looking football player at Benedictine High School, her life drastically changed. Jack Cogbill and Pat were a young couple in love, but their time together was soon interrupted by the black cloud of World War II. Both graduated high school, but Jack soon enlisted in the Army Air Corps and shortly thereafter shipped out. Pat started college at Mary Washington, but spent most her time writing letters to Jack and sending him packages. Jack fought in the European Theater as an infantryman after initially serving in England as part of the Army Air Corps. God protected them both and Jack came home from Europe, enroute to the Pacific Theater for further fighting as part of the force scheduled to invade Japan. He had 30 days leave and they could not wait any longer. They eloped to North Carolina to get married by the justice of the peace. Two of Jack’s high school football friends went along as witnesses. They flipped a coin to see who would be the “maid of honor”. As they returned to Richmond that night they heard on the radio about a new type of bomb that had been dropped on a large Japanese city. Jack never had to fight in the Pacific Theater. He was home a few months later as a civilian, but he missed his time as a soldier and reenlisted to serve in the Army units stationed in Germany to keep the peace among the German civilian population. He left Pat behind-but not for long. She soon travelled on a transport ship from New York to Bremerhaven, Germany arriving on Christmas morning 1946. She immediately boarded a train and travelled all day to Munich. She spent the day staring at the decimated remnants of a war torn country. Undeterred, she arrived in Munich and fell into the arms of her beau and they began life together. Their new home had a hole in the roof, where a wartime bomb had penetrated. The only appliances were a wood fired stove, furnace, and hot water heater. The commissary was a warehouse with cardboard boxes on the floor for the wives to “shop.” There was also no military hospital so when John Ill was due to enter the world, it was at the local German hospital. Pat carried an Army ID card, but, like her soldier husband, she had a “dog tag” that she wore to identify herself as a US citizen. As one of the first military spouses in Germany, she qualified on the Army carbine- just in case the Russians decided to push west. The family moved back to the US and soon there were two more children. Philip Hancock and Anna Marie were born at Ft. Monroe in Virginia. Before too long, the family was on its way back to Germany. There were three trips to Germany, with Jack traveling ahead and Pat following with the three rambunctious children. Whether by Army transport ship or British Airways Constellation aircraft, the Cogbills would soon be together again and Pat would make a loving and safe home for her babies and her husband. Pat was a great mother and wife. She always protected, taught, and inspired her babies. When Jack was in Korea for a year, Pat helped build soapbox racers, made pigeon traps, checked homework, ran off the bullies, carried the sick and wounded children to the doctor, and even served as the Cub Scout Den Mother. As we children left the nest, Pat and Jack, raised new families. Many beagles from the animal shelters became our new brothers and sisters. Pat loved being with Jack-no longer following him back and forth to Germany-but rather creating a beautiful and cozy home, growing older together as they watched their children mature and succeed. Pat also had a “green thumb’. Whatever she touched seemed to grow and prosper. While living at Ft. Bragg, N.C., she started a garden that grew and nourished the family for an entire summer. Her hard work and dedication inspired her three children. After living in North Carolina for a number of years Pat and Jack returned to Richmond and resided here for the last twenty-five years of their lives. Married for over 77 years, Jack went home to Heaven in September and Pat followed him home on December 11th. We know that Mom is glad that this was her last “permanent change of station.” Now she can reside in God’s house with Jack and her daughter, Anna, who predeceased Jack and Pat. We are also pretty confident that there is a troop of beagles in the house with them. Patricia Buchanan left a lasting legacy for her children; her five grandchildren; and her twelve great grandchildren. Thank you Mom, Grandma, “Patty Peach,” Great Grandma. We love you. Rest in Peace. Patricia will be laid to rest on Tuesday, December 20th, at Sunset Memorial Park, in Chesterfield, Va. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Patricia, please visit our floral store. Read more
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Patricia Buchanan Cogbill January 9 1927 December 11 2022.
Death notice for the town of: Richmond, state: Virginia