Mrs. Patricia Lamar

Patricia Dobson Lamar of Columbia, passed away on Wednesday, February 10, 2010, after a brief illness. Born in Spartanburg, SC, on September 18, 1942, she was the daughter of the late Eoline West Dobson and the late William Powell Dobson. She was a graduate of Spartanburg High School and Brenau College in Gainesville, GA. At Brenau, and she was the President of Delta Delta Delta Sorority, and a member of the HGH Honor Society. Patty was listed in Who's Who of American Colleges and Universities, and she was a member of the Junior League of Columbia. Following her graduation from Brenau, she taught school for several years in Charleston. Subsequently, she received her Masters in Early Childhood Education from the University of South Carolina. She then began teaching second grade at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia for the next 31 years. From 2005 through 2008, she worked as an associate teacher for the first grade class at Heathwood, where the lead teacher, SuSu Merry Barden, was actually a former student. It was such a joy for Patty to be in the assistant role where she was able to continue to pass on her love for teaching children. Her most recent "pupils" were her grandsons, William and Thomas Lamar, and being their "Grand P" was the role she cherished most in her life. Patty was loved by hundreds of friends who admired and adored her. She is survived by her son, William Francis Lamar IV and his wife, Marcy Johnson Lamar; grandsons, William Francis Lamar V, and Thomas Walker Lamar; sister, Joan Dobson Whitlock of Spartanburg; niece, Sara Whitlock Williams and husband, Hunter; nephew, James Francis Whitlock and wife, Jamie, all of Greenville; and former husband, William Francis Lamar III, with whom she maintained a life-long friendship. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, February 12, 2010, at Trinity Episcopal Church Cathedral, Averyt Hall, Columbia. Visitation is from 5:00-7:00 PM Thursday, February 11, 2010, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, Columbia. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, Friday, February 16, 2010, in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens in Spartanburg conducted by the Rev. Dr. Kirk H. Neely. Memorials may be made to Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, 3000 S. Beltline Blvd., Columbia, SC 29201 or Ronald McDonald House of Columbia, 2800 Colonial Drive, Columbia, SC 29203. Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com. Arrangements in Columbia by Dunbar Funeral Home, and arrangements in Spartanburg by The J. F. Floyd Mortuary. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mrs. Patricia Dobson Lamar please visit our Sympathy Store.