Patricia Heilman

Pat was born March 3, 1934 to Bryan and Frances (Wulff) Sharpe. Surviving her is one of four brothers, James “Hap” Sharpe and her children: Mary Katherine Meyers, Daniel John Heilman, and Elizabeth “Betsy” Jo Miller. Her grandchildren: Chelsea, Kay Lea, Robert, Lauren, Daniel, Steven, Thomas, Andrew, Joshua, Bill, Jacob and Leighann. Her great grandchildren: Cameron and Max.  She was preceded in death by her husband William Franklin, brothers Lawson, Clyde (Bud) and Eldon and son William Jay, whose life was ended by suicide at 15 years of age.

Pat’s early years were spent in Napoleon, where she was known for her rambunctious and forever friendships with Carolyn Hustwick Hickman and Susan Delventhal Neal. In 1953, she married a handsome and kind farmer, Bill Heilman. They loved spending time together drinking coffee and eating homemade pie. For Pat and Bill, the center of the world was in each other for the 47 years of their marriage.

Pat was endlessly creative and her home was the focus of many of her creative efforts, with seasonal decorations and impeccable style. Her interests were broad and she delved deep to become an expert in many areas: she was a master gardener and flower show judge; a reader of poetry, history and fiction; and she researched, collected and dealt in antiques.

Outside the home, she owned an event and florist company, “Designer Touch” in Liberty Center, where she arranged flowers, held classes and encouraged most of Henry County to learn to tie elaborate bows. She and Bill opened “Bill's Cafe” where she served the best homemade breakfast, lunch and pie. Her Saturday special, apple dumplings, drew diners from far and wide. After Bill’s passing, Pat spent summers working in Lakeside, Ohio, cooking for hundreds of camp-goers. She led a team of young people who adored her. She loved her time in Lakeside, meeting new friends and enjoying the lake.

Dementia slowed Pat’s last few years, but she brightened when seeing family and friends. Her family has missed her politics, stories, opinions, criticism, and love of beauty and nature — but have loved Pat's endless smiles and easy laughter these last few years.

Share your love for Pat by giving in her name to the Liberty Center Library or Symphony of Trees (supporting Henry County Hospital, Northwest Ohio CASA, and the Center for Child & Family Advocacy).

In keeping with Pat’s wishes and threats of haunting, there will be no service at this time. A memorial celebration followed by a reunion of family and friends from all of Pat’s life will be held in the spring of 2020.