Patricia Ann Dalton, 81, of Wimberley, Texas passed away Jan. 19, 2019 from complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patty was born March 18, 1937 in Sugarland, Texas to Helen and Frank Arnold who were life time residents of San Marcos. Patty was a graduate of San Marcos High school and a graduate of Texas State with a major in speech pathology. She completed her master’s degree and became an administrator of special education for the Harlandale school district in San Antonio where she remained until her retirement. Patty followed her husband, Jack, to Cuba where he was in the Navy. These were exciting and frightening times for those stationed there as Fidel Castro was beginning the overthrow of the Batista regime with bombings on their streets. After returning to the United States, Jack and she were able to visit Mexico often with their friends. Jack passed away in January 1983.
Patty always loved the family cabin on the Cypress Creek in Wimberley. The cabin had been built in the 1940s by her father and grandfather, M.L. Arnold, who loved to build houses as much as he loved teaching history at Texas State. After retirement, she was able to move into this house where she had spent every summer as a child. After some remodeling, the little camp house became a 12 month abode and she had her haven until May 2015. Patty and her neighbor, Wanda Cook, barely escaped the waist high flood waters, but with much help from many incredible people, she and all her neighbors did rebuild. Patty and her sister, Nancy, spent many a rainy day watching the water come up the hill as it was a steep one, but it would never flood. Patty always looked forward to visits from her children, Donna and Clay, as they had special outings and ventures planned each visit. As well, her grandchildren always loved spending time with Grandma Patty in Wimberley swimming, going to the ice cream parlor, playing card games, and going to the EmilyAnn Theater. There are so many memories from that little house and times spent with family and friends in Wimberley!
Patty is survived by her daughter, Donna Reamy and husband, Rhee, from Huntington, Arkansas; son Clay Dalton and his wife, Kelly, from D’Hanis, Texas and their children Kelsey Alvarez and her husband, Joshua, of San Antonio, Texas and Jaxon (great grandson); Derek, Garrett and Colton all of D’Hanis, Texas, and sister, Nancy Arnold Kuhn, of San Marcos, Texas.
Graveside services to celebrate the life of Patty will be Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019, 11 a.m., at the San Marcos City Cemetery, San Marcos, Texas, under the direction of Pennington Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to The American Lung Association and The American Cancer Society.
Arrangements by Pennington Funeral Home, San Marcos, Texas, 512-353-4311.
