Patricia Robinson Stires

It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Patricia Robinson Stires, 76, on July 23, 2023, at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Patricia lived in Queenstown for 23 years. Patricia was born on December 30,1946, in Zainesville, OH, to James Robinson and Evelyn Rittler and grew up in southern Ohio, attending a one-room schoolhouse. After graduating from Mount Gilead High School in Northern, OH, where she was a star actress, she moved to Washington, DC, to do office work for the FBI. There she met her first husband, Terry Alan Ross of Byron, GA. Patricia and Terry lived in West Berlin and Turkey for several years while Terry served in the U.S. Air Force. Patricia later attended Bowie State and Catholic University, respectively, where she received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Social Work. On September 23, 1975, Patricia and Terry had their only child, a daughter, Heather Jadwin Ross. Patricia's social work career began in Annapolis, MD, with Child Protective Services and resumed on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, when she, husband Terry, and daughter Heather moved to Kent Island, MD, in 1981. On October 8, 1988, Patricia married John Stires at St. Paul's Church in Centreville, MD. Patricia had a long and satisfying career as a social worker, creating lasting and positive changes in many lives, due to her kindness, compassion, and care. During her career, Patricia worked at several Eastern Shore mental health clinics, as a school-based therapist where she pioneered Respite Program for teenagers and was CEO of five mental health clinics which she worked diligently to save from privatization. She then had her own private practice until retirement. Patricia enjoyed spending time with friends and family including going to the ocean, camping, and traveling from Washington, DC, to Gettysburg. She traveled once with husband John to Scotland and twice to Ireland, one time entering the inner sanctuary at New Grange. Patricia and John also traveled with their friends of the U.S. Lifesaving Station Heritage Association to Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan, Nantucket, San Francisco, Astoria, the Great Lakes, Erie, PA, and Chicamacomico in North Carolina. Patricia enjoyed reading books and magazines, cooking new recipes for family dinners, shopping with her granddaughters, listening to Irish music, and experiencing Christmas time. Patricia leaves behind her husband, John Stires; daughter, Heather Norfolk; two granddaughters, Mallory and Allison Norfolk of Queenstown; former husband and Heather's father, Terry Ross, of Byron, GA; brother, Steve Robinson of Mt. Gilead, OH; cat "Rusty;" and many other dear friends and family. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to Haven Ministries, P.O Box 44, Chester, MD 21619.

Patricia Robinson Stires

December 30, 1946 - July 23, 2023