Patricia Sue Kempster

Patricia Sue Kempster, 86, passed away on Thursday, May 5, 2022 at Paramount Assisted Living in Fredericksburg, VA. She was born on July 31, 1935 in Alameda, California to Robert Leroy Mealman and Marjorie Florence O'Neil. She was preceded in death by her husband of 37 years, Thomas Brazell Kempster.

Patricia graduated from Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, CA and graduated from Nursing School in San Francisco. She worked as a dental assistant and later went on to UCSF Dental School as a Chairside Instructor. She worked as a secretary at the Pentagon for the Air Force Department of Defense and then moved to the National Institute of Health as a Grant Researcher. Patricia later became a church secretary at Good Shepherd Episcopal in Burke, VA. After completing her degree at George Mason University in 1996, she attended Virginia Theological Seminary and UC Berkley Divinity School where she earned her Masters of Divinity. Patricia was ordained as an Episcopal Priest in the Diocese of Northern California and served as an Associate Priest at Trinity Episcopal in Folsom, CA.

After retiring, Patricia enjoyed cruising, reading, and quilting. She and Tom lived in Virginia, California, and South Carolina during their marriage.

Patricia leaves behind her children, Deborah Stanley, Susan Kempster (Karl), Gary Bates (Jill), and Richard Bates; daughter-in-law Cindy Bates; Tom’s children Keith Kempster (Carole) and Kurt Kempster (Melissa); grandchildren Matt Bates (Stacey), Kyle Kempster (Caitlin), Kevin Kempster (Megan), Andy Bates (Amy), Michael Stanley, Rebecca Johnson (Stewart), Lindsey Bates, Leslie Bates, and Chase Kempster; great-grandchildren Elsie Kempster, Milo Kempster, Oliver Johnson, Emily Johnson, Charlie Johnson and A.J. Bates; and sisters Micke Allison and Carol Clifford.

A service will be held at a later date.