Patricia Austin Sims of Virginia Beach, VA, passed away on the 8th of February, at age 78.

Born in Bluefield, VA on October 17, 1947, to Robert Wilmore Austin and Elizabeth Davis Austin, Patricia Carlotta Austin was raised with her three sisters, Silvia (Donnie), LaVare, and Shirley in a small town setting. She graduated from Graham High School in 1966 wanting nothing more than to settle down and start a family.

On November 26, 1966, she married Lester David Sims, Jr, and she bore him two sons: Robert R. Sims and Lester David Sims, III. Robert did not survive. Patricia (Pat) is also preceded in death by her parents, RW and Elizabeth as well as her two older sisters, Donnie and LaVare, along with a host of others loved ones. She is survived by her husband Lester, her son Les, her sister Shirley W. Haynes and many other family and friends.

Pat worked in various fields. She began her career as an aviation meteorologist, delivering weather reports to pilots before the family moved to Beaufort, SC where she became an assistant branch manager at a local bank. Upon returning to Virginia Beach, she worked in real estate briefly before landing a data entry position with a local optometrist. This got her into computers. She would go back to school earning an Associate’s degree in that field. In her last job, she would serve the community ion our school systems, but her real passion was being a wife and mother.

A viewing and memorial will be held between noon and 2PM on Saturday, March 7, at Family Choice Funerals & Cremations located at 5401 Indian River Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23464. Cards and flowers can be sent to this location.

A repast will follow at 2PM at Columbian Club located at 1236 Prosperity Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23451. Please RSVP so that we may properly prepare.