Patricia Louise Gosting Opitz (Pat), age 83, longtime resident of Hampton, Virginia, passed away on Sunday, December 6, 2015 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She was a proud Navy daughter and Air Force wife born September 10, 1932 in San Diego, California to the late Lieutenant Commander George Gosting Sr., USN, Retired, and Helen (Veach) Gosting. She graduated from high school in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and attended the Women’s College of the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, NC.
Following a first marriage to Willard E. Kline, Jr., she was a devoted wife to Colonel Stephen J. Opitz, Jr., USAF, Retired, for 30 years. Together they enjoyed a life of travel, skiing, community theater, boating, antique collecting, and spending time with friends and family, always with lots of laughter. Together they raised five children with a mix of discipline, duty, love and humor that lives on in the family. Pat was an avid reader, adventurous cook, and accomplished sewer, bridge player and organist. She had an inquiring mind that led to many a lively discussion.
Left to cherish Pat’s memory are her children, Barbara Kline Augone (Charles), Ward G. Kline (Alice), Russell B. Kline (Teri), Eric B. Opitz (Jean), and Christopher L. Opitz (Mary). She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, her siblings Pamela Trucco, George Gosting Jr., and Peggi Lovell, and her nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and grandson Joel Kline.
Family, friends and others whose lives Pat touched are invited to the graveside service at the National Veterans Cemetery in Hampton, VA on December 28 at 2 pm, Minister David Rollins officiating, followed by a private celebration of life.
The family would like to extend our gratitude to Pat’s friends and the staff at Bay Lake Retirement and Assisted Living in Virginia Beach for their attentiveness and care.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in her name to the American Heart Association at www.donate.heart.org