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Pat Vine

7/12/2015

3 Comments

 
Picture
Pat Vine died a couple of days ago.  Her funeral service will be Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at the First Presbyterian Church of Alton, Illinois.  I am writing this so her lifelong partner, Betsy Simms, will know how Pat was respected and how Pat-and-Betsy will always be a linked phrase describing an important unit in my life and the lives of many.  At the same time they fastidiously referred to themselves in an un-hyphenated way as Pat Vine and Betsy Simms, inferring, I think, a level of care and concern for being considered as different persons.  Anyone who has had more than five minutes contact with Pat and Betsy knows they are two independent women, but inseparable in my mind for all that.    

Pat was the daughter and only child of Agnes and Ben Vine.  They lived on Twelfth Street in Alton in a historic house they carefully maintained.  By this we know that the Vines had respect for history and traditions although Pat's life was not strictly traditional.  That, I think, is important to understand.  Alton was once grander than anyone remembers.  It was mentioned in Ripley’s “Believe It Or Not” as the city with the most millionaires in the country at the time.  Major industries belched smoke and emitted glass milk bottles, cardboard boxes, leather, electricity, petroleum and chemicals, and steel.  Alton receded and was absorbed into “Greater Saint Louis” and the industrial strip rusted down.  The town did its best to retain its architectural heritage, and the Vines helped.  Several stately houses owe their survival to Vine funding.  For years after Ben died Agnes persisted in this.

Meanwhile, Pat departed from Alton to become educated and independent in my home town at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois where she met Betsy Sims.  As far as I know they never lived separately after that.  They became teachers, under the tutelage of Vic Shepherd, a family friend of ours.  I think their time in Mac must have overlapped with that of Carolyn Ryberg Kingshill, a music graduate and fellow missionary in Thailand.  “Small world” coincidences abound.  Pat and Betsy spent their careers as high school teachers in Chicago’s western suburbs, a three or four hour GM&O train ride from Alton.  In Lombard and La Grange Pat and Betsy were colleagues with my closest cousin, Pat York Alstrin and her husband Jim.  I connected with them in 1987 when I became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Alton.  That’s when I met Pat-and-Betsy, as well as the indomitable Agnes.  For a year I was only aware that Pat-and-Betsy came and went.  But after a fire destroyed our historic church building Agnes and her daughters emerged as specific personalities and generous donors to the rebuilding project, filling in with big gifts for a new furnace and elevator, not covered by insurance.  As Agnes’ health issues began to multiply my association with Agnes, Pat-and-Betsy became closer and more frequent.  As Agnes put it, “Gravity is getting the best of me”.   Gravity won.  The historic house on 12th street was sold and Pat and Betsy build a house just a short walk down Godfrey Road from our house, from which we were departing to move back to Thailand.

For several years Pat-and-Betsy provided annual donations for charity work outside the budget that I undertook as a missionary.  I know I was not alone as a grateful recipient.  I repeat here, this was immensely important on several levels because it was strategic and timely.  But I am grateful for much more than funds.  Pat-and-Betsy were responsive when Pramote and I embarked on a lifetime partnership and encountered anti-gay turbulence that might have sunk our little ship.  They were among the first to affirm us.  A few years later Pat-and-Betsy drove their cumbersome mobile cabin from Eagle River, Wisconsin to Indianola, Iowa to celebrate our marriage, becoming two-thirds of the out of town guests.  I think of Pat-and-Betsy gratefully and fondly as “there for us” when it mattered.  In 2012 they invited Pramote and me to have supper in their snug house in Godfrey.  We laughed and ate and parted one last time with hugs. (Pat is on the left in the picture above).

On July 22 I would love to be “there for them” when it matters.  It pains me that this is not possible.  I will have to leave it to others to hug Betsy and smother her in support as best they can.  I will cherish the memory of our last supper together. 

3 Comments
Rick Simms
7/13/2015 12:22:21 pm

My cousin Jim sent this link to me. I am Pat-and-Betsy's nephew and part of the "Simms" clan. Betsy was my Dad's little sister. My wife Cynde and I have had the responsibility and honor of taking care of their financial affairs and, with the help of many friends and relatives, visiting them and making sure their needs were taken care of.

Pat was a such a wonderful person and will be dearly missed.

Thank you so much for your beautiful words about Pat, her family, and the two of them. You can be assured that you will be there in spirit and there will be many folks that will be there to support Betsy.Please contact my email if you have any questions or thoughts.

Reply
Kenneth Dobson link
7/13/2015 11:55:18 pm

I have had a very informative exchange with Greg Fletcher who mentioned you. From Greg's description of Betsy's condition, although Greg did not say this, I would conclude it is unlikely Betsy will be able to return to independent living. How far from Alton do you live Rick?

Please give my greetings to folks when they gather. I know quite a few of the Vine clan and not many of your side of the family.

Reply
Rick Simms
7/14/2015 06:48:15 pm

You are correct regarding Betsy's condition. She has improved somewhat but at this time we do not see her returning to independent living or assisted living.

Cynde and I live in Denver. It has been a challenge taking care of things but we have had great support from cousins from the Simms side and some of Pat's family. Nancee Vine has visited often and Karen Perotka and her husband Roger have been great, along with Greg and his family.

We will keep you informed.




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