Patricia Needham

Patricia Joan Needham, 78, died at 1:35 a.m. Aug. 18, 2008, at St. Rita?s Medical Center. She was born August 22, 1929, in Lima, Ohio to Earl Hewett and Celesta Verna Hall Stokes, who preceded her in death. On October 4, 1952, she married Joseph Patrick Needham, who died December 30, 1987. Mrs. Needham was a homemaker. She had been a waitress and cook in her younger years at the Avalon, G&G, the Modern and the Dog House. She later co-owned and operated the Lima Dairy Island Ice Cream Shop. She had been a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary. She was a 1947 graduate of Lima South High School. She dearly loved being surrounded by her family and friends. She and her husband loved having people drop by to visit and socialize anytime of the day or night. The door was always open. Everyone enjoyed her sense of humor, hearty laugh and her love of life. Following her retirement, she settled in to watching her beloved Reds, Buckeyes and Bengals. Survivors include a son, James L. Needham, of Lima; a daughter, Margaret Celeste ?Peggy? Handshoe, of Winston-Salem, N.C.; seven grandchildren, James M. Needham, Brian Needham, Amanda Needham, Sean Needham, Joe Thomas, Mike Handshoe and Todd Handshoe; seven great grandchildren, Cassie, Brianna, Tyler, Chase, Yessie, Hope and Shelby; and three brothers, John Richard (Marilyn) Stokes, Harry Stokes and Chuck (Sandy) Stokes, all of Lima, Ohio. She was preceded in death by a son, Michael Thomas Needham; five brothers, Hewitt Stokes, Donald Stokes, Earl ?Bugs? Stokes, Glenn ?Baldy? Stokes and David Stokes; and three sisters, Mary Elinore Nettles, Isabel Davis and Donna Kay Shibler. Services will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home. The Rev. John Perkins and the Rev. Eldon Hartman will officiate. Burial will be in Gethsemani Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday and noon until time of services Friday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor?s choice. The family would like to thank three special caregivers, Ginny Magnuson, Steve Allen and Sandy May. They would also like to thank Heritage Health Care and all of its caregivers and nurses. Condolences may be expressed at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com.