ELKHART -- Patricia Jane LaBaw, 86, of Elkhart, passed away at 2:10 a.m. Friday (July 23, 2010) at Hospice House of Elkhart following an extended illness.

She was born Aug. 6, 1923, in Detroit to the late Charles John and Winifred (Wenberg) Becker. On April 22, 1950, at St. Paul's Cathedral in Detroit, she married William D. "Bill" LaBaw. Bill died Sept. 12, 2004, in Elkhart.

She is survived by her sons, David LaBaw of Elkhart and Charles LaBaw and his wife Ann of Fletcher, N.C., and a daughter, Patricia Bathe, and her husband Kerry of White Pigeon, Mich. Also surviving arre a grandson, Joe LaBaw, of Cambridge, Mass., and two step grandsons, James Bathe of White Pigeon and Chris Bathe serving with the U.S. Army at Ft. Campbell, Ky.

Patricia was preceded in death by her brothers, Charles E. and John E. Becker.

During World War II, Patricia worked in accounting and did payroll at Ferry-Morse Seed Co. in Detroit and also was active as a "Grey Lady" with the American Red Cross, doing volunteer work at Harper Hospital in Detroit. After the war ended she attended and graduated from the University of Michigan, and became a member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority and was active in campus affairs. The university is also where she met, became engaged to and eventually married the love of her life, William D. LaBaw. In September of 1961 the family moved to Elkhart where they became active members of St. John's Episcopal Church, where she served on St. Margaret's Guild and was an assistant to the treasurer for 20 years, doing all the bookkeeping for the church.

When her children were young adults, she went to work in the office at Strauss Bakeries, where she worked part time for 20 years, until it closed. Patricia was also a member of the Athena Club, Four Arts Club and the Mr. and Mrs. Club. She also visited the homebound and the elderly.

A gathering of family and friends will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at St. John's Episcopal Church, 226 W. Lexington St., Elkhart., where a Requiem Mass to celebrate her life will follow at 7 p.m. The Rev. Daniel Repp of St. John's Episcopal Church will officiate .

Cremation has taken place, with placement of her remains in the church columbarium at a later date. Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart is entrusted with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, preferred memorials may be given to the church or The Humane Society of Elkhart County, 54687 C.R. 19, Bristol, IN 46507.