Eudora Patch

RANDOLPH—Eudora "Dot" Patch, 93, died Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2001, at Gifford Medical Center in Randolph. She was born in Montpelier July 26, 1908, the daughter of Peter and Eva (Dawley) LeBell.

She was educated in Montpelier schools, Mt. St. Mary's in Burlington, St. Johnsbury Academy and nurse's training at the Randolph Sanatorium.

She married Clifford Patch April 30, 1927, in Whitehall, N.Y. He died in 1995.

She was a nurse for a short time before joining her husband at Patch's studio in Randolph. She graduated from the New England School of Photography, the Winona School of Photography in Indiana and the Lefler School of Color in Springfield, Mo. She did all of the oil colors at Patch's Studio.

She was a member and past President of the Vermont Professional Photographers Association, a member and past state representative of the Professional Photographers Association of New England, and a member of the Professional Photographers Association of America, where she was the first Vermonter to be given "The Outstanding Presentation of Photography Award" for which she received a plaque in 1959.

She was a member of the Senior Center in Randolph and will be remembered for her many years of assisting her husband, who was handicapped from polio at an early age, at Patch's Studio, on weddings and school pictures. Her greatest interest was weddings and she became known as "Randolph's wedding counselor." She was proud of her oil portrait of "Mother Superior" which hangs in a Convent in New Mexico. She retired from photography in 1989.

She leaves a daughter, Joan Williamson of Norwich, Conn.; a son, Frank Patch of Hazelwood, Mo.; 14 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by a son, Donald.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Sts. Donatian and Rogatian Catholic Church Saturday, Oct. 6, at 1 p.m., with Rev. John Milanese officiating.

Calling hours will be Friday, Oct. 5, from 7-9 p.m. at the Day Funeral Home.

Burial will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Randolph. Donations in her memory may be made to the Randolph Senior Center, Kitchen Construction Fund, 6 Hale Street, Randolph, VT 05060.

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