Barbara Patton Pate

Barbara Patton Pate, age 84, passed away on January 25 at Brooks-Howell Home following a long and courageous battle with cancer and other health issues. She was born and raised in Canton, NC. She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy H Patton and Delma Mitchell Patton, and her brother Roy Patton Jr. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Barry R Pate MD, sons Barry R Pate Jr MD (Husband William Jones MD and family), Mark W Pate, James W Pate, Grandchildren James Weston Pate Jr (Wife Destinie), Austin Mitchell Pate (Wife Alexandria), Matthew Cole Pate (Fiancé Maria) and Taylor Ann McNabb (Husband lan}, and Great Granddaughter Raegan Pate.

A graduate of Pisgah High School in Canton, NC, Barbara received many accolades in her youth: Miss Canton, Miss Haywood County and Apple Festival Queen, and was first runner up to Miss North Carolina. She attended Fletcher School of Dance and was a wonderful tap and square dancer, performing with Miss America Maria Fletcher and others. As a singer Barbara excelled as a mezzo soprano, majoring in voice at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio. For many years she sang with the choir at Central United Methodist Church where she also served as director for many weddings. She had her own business, The Manner Works, where she taught business etiquette to professionals and children, and she volunteered her skills to help inmates at local prisons.

In her community Barbara served as President of the Children’s Welfare League, was a Founding Mother of the Health Adventure, and was Chairwoman of the Asheville Quilt Guild where she was a recipient of their Tresner Award. She was a member of the Junior League, Rhododendron Brigade, President of the Buncombe County Medical Auxiliary, and served on the Board of Directors of Elida Home. Her civic mindedness also extended to the Asheville Gay Men’s Chorus where she served as President of the Board of Directors, and until her health prevented her attending, never missed a concert. In so many ways Barbara was a true Renaissance woman. She enjoyed cookouts, swimming, fishing, and sitting on the porch at the family summer home, “The Camp”, above Lake Logan throughout her life. Her interests included hiking, sewing, reading novels, watching science fiction movies and General Hospital, and playing Mahjong. Her charming personality and smile were both gracious and sincere. She was a great organizer, listener, and giver of sound advice. She was devoted to her family and spent many happy hours with them. Gourmet cooking was also a favorite pastime, sharing the skills she learned under Chef Bob Werth at AB Tech. Nothing pleased her more than cooking for a large gathering of family and friends to celebrate holidays and special occasions.

The Family would like to thank Dr. Martin Palmeri and the incredible staff at Messino Cancer Center, Mission Hospital, Care Partners Rehab and Hospice Care, Dr. Hiran Patel and the amazing staff at Brooks-Howell Home as well as Dr. David Clements and Dr. Brian Edwards. The Family would also like to thank the Asheville Firefighters and EMS crews who responded so faithfully when they were needed, and, especially, longtime family friend Maralee Gollberg for the many handmade cards with messages of hope and love. 

Donations in honor of Barbara may be made to the American Red Cross, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, The Asheville Gay Men’s Chorus, and to Brooks- Howell Employee Christmas Fund. She is under the care of Penland Funeral Home in Swannanoa, NC. No services are planned at this time, but a celebration of her life may be offered in the future. 

You now have your heavenly wings. Fly high and rest in peace.

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