Patricia Dent

Patricia “Pat” (Stoner) Dent passed away peacefully on March 7, 2026. Born on February 24, 1935, to John and Carrie Stoner, she grew up as the only daughter among eight children on a dairy farm. With quiet determination, she became the first in her family to attend college, graduating from Gettysburg College at a time when few women pursued higher education.

Pat devoted more than three decades to teaching elementary school, viewing it as a true calling. She cared deeply for her students, and for years afterward she would be stopped in public by former pupils eager to greet her and tell her what she had meant to them. She was married for 48 years to her beloved husband, Edward “Larry” Dent, with whom she shared a life centered on family, faith, and a mutual love for the Philadelphia Phillies.

She was the proud mother of Pam and Mike, the loving grandmother of Megan and Jordan, and the joyful great-grandmother of Luciana. Pat cherished every family gathering, game, and milestone, always present with encouragement and pride. She was known for sending loved ones home with full bellies, peppermint patties, and ten dollars “for gas.” She found quiet pleasure in gardening, her church community, traveling, cheering for the Phillies and Maryland basketball, and enjoying ice cream.

Pat will be remembered for her compassion, kindness, generosity, and unwavering devotion to family and friends. She is survived by her children, Pam (Harold) and Mike (Vikki); her grandchildren, Megan (Michael) and Jordan; and her great-granddaughter, Luciana.