Patricia “Pat” Strickler Lam, 94, of Harrisonburg, formerly of Elkton passed away on March 15, 2024 at Brookdale Assisted Living in Harrisonburg where she had been a resident for over four years.

 

Pat was born on March 17, 1929 in Shenandoah and was the only child of Harry and Gertrude Strickler. She graduated from Shenandoah High School and Shenandoah University, which was then located in Dayton, Virginia. After graduating college, she worked in the lab at Merck & Company before dedicating her time to family and home.

On September 7, 1963, she married Jesse J. “Jack” Lam, Jr. who preceded her in death on November 12, 2004. They resided in Oxford, North Carolina, for almost 40 years. After Jack’s death, Pat returned to the Valley to be closer to family.

While living in Elkton, Pat reunited with many old friends and quickly made new ones. When she wasn’t playing cards, dominoes, building puzzles, reading, shopping or having lunch with her friends, she could often be found cheering on her favorite college basketball team, University of North Carolina. Pat was a selfless and kindhearted woman, often making care baskets for people she knew in the nursing home and those in need.

She is survived by her granddaughter, Jessica Lam, and three great-grandchildren, who reside in Miami, Florida. She loved them dearly and would always send them care packages every holiday and never missing a birthday. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews who were all very special to her.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by her daughters, Carolyn Lam and Marsha Lam, and two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Lam and Evelyn Matthews.