Obituary of Patricia R. McCulloch

Patricia Rentsler McCulloch died peacefully at her home in Point Pleasant on June 12 after a pleasant day with her son's family and great-grandchild Carley. Pat was born to Guy and Mabel Rentsler in New York City in 1922. She was a graduate of The Hartridge School and Hollins College, where she majored in biology. She then worked in a laboratory at Merck. In 1945 Pat married Dr. Hugh McCulloch, who served as a dermatologist in the Army Air Corps at the end of World War II. He was stationed in Guam when their first child was born. Pat and Hugh lived in Plainfield until after their children were grown, but always vacationed at the Jersey Shore. They moved in the 1970s to Bay Head, where Hugh continued to practice dermatology several more years. Pat was an active member of All Saints' Church, serving on the Altar Guild and always making beach plum jam for ECW events. All her life she loved gardening, and at the shore was active in the Seaweeders. She harvested asparagus, other vegetables and herbs from back yard plots and her front porch always had a basket overflowing with flowers. Indoor plants bloomed at her command. For years she played duplicate bridge at the Bay Head Yacht Club. Because of the kindness of friends and her church community, Pat and Hugh could stay until the end of their lives in their own home, even resolutely through Hurricane Sandy. But special thanks are due to the kind attention of neighbors George and Kathy and Diane and Jim, and to care-givers Rhonda, Debbie, Patricia and Bonnie. Pat is survived by her daughter Constance McCulloch Jones of Norfolk, Virginia and daughter Cary Marshall Jones Elza (husband Brian and son Clark) and son David Milton Jones (wife Madelaine and daughter Lucy); and by Pat's son Bruce Meredith McCulloch and his wife Janis of Pittstown, and their son Michael Drew McCulloch (wife Sarah and children Madison and Patrick) and their daughter Leigh Meredith Wojcik (husband Dan and daughter Carley). A funeral for Pat will be held at All Saints' Episcopal Church in Bay Head at 11:00 a.m. July 2nd. Memorial donations may be made to All Saints'.