Patricia Koenig

Patricia Vance Koenig, age 89 of Centerville, OH passed away peacefully on July 26, 2024 with family by her side. She was born December 6, 1934 on Buckeye Street to the late Jefferson and Lucille Vance and was a lifelong resident of Dayton. Pat graduated from Kiser High School, attended the University of Miami (FL), and later earned an associates degree in music from Sinclair Community College. Pat did administrative work for an insurance company and taught at St. Helen Elementary before becoming a stay at home mom, honing her cooking skills. Making everything from French toast to chili, and salads with fresh lemon-olive oil dressing and batches of cabbage rolls, as well as hosting memorable and quite legendary parties. Her pets include Babe the boxer and Siamese cats Tom & Jerry, Mozart, Wolfie, and Nikko.

She married her high school sweetheart, Bob, in 1956 and together they enjoyed polka dancing, pool parties, volleyball, skiing, tennis and golf. They traveled to faraway adventures including boating to Bimini, leading the bunny hop in Heidelberg, Germany, sleeping in an Austrian castle, singing for the Pope at St. Peter's, golfing at St. Andrews, and taking a boat cruise on the Seine in Paris. Pat and Bob also had several visits with Krista in China and Japan, Julie in Atlanta, and Rob in Alaska, as well as many vacations to South Carolina - notably Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, and Fripp Island.

Pat was affectionately called Patsy by her lifelong friends which included the Petroskys, Potters, Massies, Guists, Thomashots and Sestis. Patsy, Nancy, Betty, Bettina, and Mona were known as the Steel Magnolias, aka the Mags. Sometimes the gang jokingly called her Crabby Patty but she was much better known for her infectious laugh. She enjoyed an occasional scotch and soda or a Brandy Alexander for special events such as leading Christmas carols sing-alongs at the piano. At just 5'3" tall, she danced the can-can and played trombone at Kiser.

With her platinum blonde hair and fashionable style, her doppelganger was the dramatic actress Kim Novak but her favorite movies were silly comedies such as "The Jerk" and "The Money Pit." Pat enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and she carried a kazoo in her purse in case a musical opportunity presented itself.

Pat played the organ and directed choirs over the course of several decades at several Dayton-area Catholic churches including Ascension, St. Albert the Great, Holy Angels, and Holy Family. She took much pride and dedication to the craft and in sharing her love of music.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings Owen (Marilyn) Vance and Doris Schickling. She is survived by her devoted husband, Robert Koenig and their loving children Robert (Arlene) Koenig, Julie Koenig, and Krista (Jack) Matsumoto, grandchildren Emily (Jeremy), Jonathan, Daniel, Benjamin, Evan (Morgan), Hannah (Jake), and Sarah, great-grandchildren Keila and Kieran, and many wonderful nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and great grand nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 7th from 5-8pm at the Westbrock Funeral Home, 5980 Bigger Rd. Kettering, OH. Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, August 8th at 12:00PM at St. Albert the Great Catholic Parish in Kettering with interment following at Calvary Cemetery. The Koenigs wish to thank the staff at Vienna Springs Health Campus for their thoughtful care as well as the newfound friendship of her fellow residents. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorial donations be made to Ohio's Hospice of Dayton.

Immediately following the cemetery, there will be a reception at NCR Country Club, 4435 Dogwood Trail, Kettering OH 45429.

Kanpai to a full life, well-lived!