Patricia Collins Batchelor, successful businesswoman

Patricia “Pat” Collins Batchelor passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, following a brief illness.  

Patricia was born in Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 26, 1940, the second of three sisters, or according to her, “the dreaded middle child.”  She graduated from Central High School and attended Memphis State University. She married Rex Gilbert Batchelor in 1962.

After leaving Memphis State, she worked in retail management.  In 1976, she and Rex moved to Milford, where she began her career in property management. In 1998, she became the owner and CEO of East Coast Property Management. Her entrepreneurial spirit, policy-making skills, and joyous and outgoing personality contributed to the success of her company, which managed more than 50 properties of affordable housing with over 2,000 units.  

She was a great asset to affordable housing throughout Delaware and the region. In 2003, she was honored by the Delaware National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials as their 2003 Ambassador and received recognition by Delaware Technical and Community College as an Outstanding Businesswoman in Delaware. In 2009, the governor appointed her to the Delaware Council on Housing. She retired and sold her business in 2010.

Patricia is survived by her loving family, her two sons, Timothy James and Collins Bradford; her sister, Fran; and three grandchildren, Anna, Jasmine and Brittany. She is predeceased by her parents; her husband; and sister, Barbara.

Her Celebration of Life will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at Reformation Lutheran Church, 613 Lakeview Ave., Milford.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.