Patricia Zimmerman Straub of Orlando, Florida passed away on Wednesday, May 10 at the age of 76. She was born on August 10, 1946, at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Her parents were Army officers and her family lived in several places while she was growing up, including Japan and Hawaii, of which she had fond memories. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Florida State University in 1968 and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Rollins College in 1974. While attending FSU, Pat met her husband, Joseph T. Straub, in a speech class, and they married on June 1, 1968.
She is preceded in death by her parents, William C. Zimmerman and Edith M. Zimmerman, of Sarasota, Florida. She is survived by her husband, Joseph T. Straub; their daughter, Stacey Straub Salmons (husband Dean); and her grandsons, Clayton and Carson Salmons.
Pat worked for 35 years with the Job Service of Florida as a supervisor. She enjoyed traveling to Europe and cruising the Caribbean with her family. For several years, Pat was an abstract color photographer, displaying her work in many highly regarded Central Florida art shows, including the Lake Mary Festival of the Arts, the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, and Disney’s Festival of the Masters. She loved violets, lunch at Hillstone’s, champagne, the ballet, chocolate, pretty shoes, all animals (holding a special place in her heart for the many cats she treasured throughout her life), her grandsons (who she felt were perfect), her daughter (who she was very proud of), and her husband (who she was in love with for the entirety of their 54 year, 11 month, and 1 week marriage).
Pat’s family would like to thank Vickie, a very special and caring Certified Nursing Assistant at Westminster Towers, for the care and compassion she showed Pat during her final days.
Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Pat’s Life at the National Cremation & Burial Society, 7565 Red Bug Lake Road, Oviedo, Florida on Thursday, June 8, 2023, at 11:00 am. At her request, her ashes will be scattered at sea off the coast of South Melbourne Beach.