1929
Patricia
2025
Patricia Wallin
April 22, 1929 — February 27, 2025
Patricia Claire Wallin passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her children on February 27, 2025. Pat was a loving, kind, smart, beautiful, elegant woman who had many talents and interests, but her family and friends were always most important to her. She had an infectious smile and generous heart. She will be missed immensely by all who knew her.
Patricia was born on April 22, 1929, in Rockford, Illinois to Fred K. "Smitty" Smith and Martha F. Smith nee Calvert. Her family lived in Loves Park in a home, which she loved to share, "Upon moving in, had no indoor plumbing." She attended school, even skipping third grade, in the Loves Park School District and worked part time as a waitress at the Rockford Country Club. When Pat was a senior in high school, her family moved to Byron, Illinois, but wanting to finish her final year at Harlem High, she moved into the YWCA and took a secretarial job at Woodward Governor.
After graduating from Harlem in 1946, Pat met her future husband, Eugene "Gene" Wallin and the couple were wed in August of 1950. Together, the couple had three children, and in 1956, built a home in Byron, Illinois. Pat and Gene soon became very active in their new community and developed quite the social circle. They would gather with friends at the Indian Village Restaurant for the Friday fish fry and played cards with neighbors on Saturday nights. Pat loved singing and was a beloved member of several choruses, including the choir at The United Church of Byron, the "Byron Beauty Shop Quartet," consisting of fellow Byronites: Fran Jarrett, Barb Leary, and Betty Johnson, as well as The Sweet Adeline Chorus in Rockford. She also worked full time for her uncle's trucking company, "Highway Motors."
In 1969, the Wallins moved to Rockford where Pat worked in the cosmetics department at Weise's Department Store, in downtown Rockford. She was one of the first people to see upon entering, and her smile and warmth were a welcoming embrace. Not one to remain stagnant, in the early 1970s, she became a real estate agent and then worked at Goldblatt's until the mid-1980s. Pat was an extremely social person, so she loved working with and meeting new people throughout her various careers.
Not only did Pat find joy in her jobs, but she was a devoted scholar, who decided to enroll at Rock Valley College simply for the love of learning. She was a wealth of knowledge and often joked about being the oldest person in all her classes. She received her Associates Degree in Liberal Arts and celebrated with a trip to Europe.
Pat retired from working in 1988 and spent much of her time with her precious grandchildren who absolutely adored her. She also met with two special friends, Betty and Micky, every morning where they would chit-chat, sew, and drink endless cups of coffee. Pat was a collector of various ephemera, including metal lunch boxes, glassware, and unique knick knacks. She was an avid bridge player and a lifelong movie buff, loving all the classics, as well as the new blockbusters. She also enjoyed theater, especially the musicals at Starlight Theater. Even in some quite unpleasant weather, Pat wouldn't miss a show.
After the passing of her husband, Pat moved to the Harbour Royale Condominium Complex where she was a popular, well-liked resident, joining the "Lillies" and attending and hosting an abundance of Bridge Clubs and social gatherings. She spent many days shopping and lunching with her forever friend, Jan, her favorite thing to do. Their weekly trips to Macy's and Chico's were inevitable and finding a bargain on the "greatly reduced rack" made for a successful trip.
Pat was a woman of great class, knowledge, kindness, and compassion whose passing will leave a hole in the hearts of all who loved her. She was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Martha Smith, brother, William "Bill" Smith, and husband, Eugene Wallin. Pat is survived by her brother James L. (Nordis) Smith of Austin, TX, son Fred Smith Wallin of Rockford, IL, daughter Jane (Charles) Cheek of Albany, OR, Kate (Gordon) Glod of Geneva, IL, and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews, as well as childhood best friend, Janice Partch of Loves Park, IL. The family wishes to express many thanks to OSF Hospice. No formal funeral service is planned per Pat's wishes.
Patricia was born on April 22, 1929, in Rockford, Illinois to Fred K. "Smitty" Smith and Martha F. Smith nee Calvert. Her family lived in Loves Park in a home, which she loved to share, "Upon moving in, had no indoor plumbing." She attended school, even skipping third grade, in the Loves Park School District and worked part time as a waitress at the Rockford Country Club. When Pat was a senior in high school, her family moved to Byron, Illinois, but wanting to finish her final year at Harlem High, she moved into the YWCA and took a secretarial job at Woodward Governor.
After graduating from Harlem in 1946, Pat met her future husband, Eugene "Gene" Wallin and the couple were wed in August of 1950. Together, the couple had three children, and in 1956, built a home in Byron, Illinois. Pat and Gene soon became very active in their new community and developed quite the social circle. They would gather with friends at the Indian Village Restaurant for the Friday fish fry and played cards with neighbors on Saturday nights. Pat loved singing and was a beloved member of several choruses, including the choir at The United Church of Byron, the "Byron Beauty Shop Quartet," consisting of fellow Byronites: Fran Jarrett, Barb Leary, and Betty Johnson, as well as The Sweet Adeline Chorus in Rockford. She also worked full time for her uncle's trucking company, "Highway Motors."
In 1969, the Wallins moved to Rockford where Pat worked in the cosmetics department at Weise's Department Store, in downtown Rockford. She was one of the first people to see upon entering, and her smile and warmth were a welcoming embrace. Not one to remain stagnant, in the early 1970s, she became a real estate agent and then worked at Goldblatt's until the mid-1980s. Pat was an extremely social person, so she loved working with and meeting new people throughout her various careers.
Not only did Pat find joy in her jobs, but she was a devoted scholar, who decided to enroll at Rock Valley College simply for the love of learning. She was a wealth of knowledge and often joked about being the oldest person in all her classes. She received her Associates Degree in Liberal Arts and celebrated with a trip to Europe.
Pat retired from working in 1988 and spent much of her time with her precious grandchildren who absolutely adored her. She also met with two special friends, Betty and Micky, every morning where they would chit-chat, sew, and drink endless cups of coffee. Pat was a collector of various ephemera, including metal lunch boxes, glassware, and unique knick knacks. She was an avid bridge player and a lifelong movie buff, loving all the classics, as well as the new blockbusters. She also enjoyed theater, especially the musicals at Starlight Theater. Even in some quite unpleasant weather, Pat wouldn't miss a show.
After the passing of her husband, Pat moved to the Harbour Royale Condominium Complex where she was a popular, well-liked resident, joining the "Lillies" and attending and hosting an abundance of Bridge Clubs and social gatherings. She spent many days shopping and lunching with her forever friend, Jan, her favorite thing to do. Their weekly trips to Macy's and Chico's were inevitable and finding a bargain on the "greatly reduced rack" made for a successful trip.
Pat was a woman of great class, knowledge, kindness, and compassion whose passing will leave a hole in the hearts of all who loved her. She was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Martha Smith, brother, William "Bill" Smith, and husband, Eugene Wallin. Pat is survived by her brother James L. (Nordis) Smith of Austin, TX, son Fred Smith Wallin of Rockford, IL, daughter Jane (Charles) Cheek of Albany, OR, Kate (Gordon) Glod of Geneva, IL, and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews, as well as childhood best friend, Janice Partch of Loves Park, IL. The family wishes to express many thanks to OSF Hospice. No formal funeral service is planned per Pat's wishes.
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