Patricia (Pat) Perkins Lape joined her Lord and Savior on March 4, 2026. She was born in

Roxboro, N.C. on August 18, 1938, the oldest child of the late James (Jim) Marshall Perkins and

Mary Clay Perkins. She graduated from Roxboro High School in 1956 and attended Meredith

and Peace Colleges in Raleigh, N.C. Following school, she worked in the N.C. Highway Patrol

Headquarters, where she met her future husband. Following their marriage, she transferred to the

N.C. Wildlife Commission Headquarters. Following the birth of their son, she "retired" and

devoted her life to that of a loving homemaker, wife and mother. Three years later, she was

blessed by the birth of a daughter.

She was very active in her children's activities, including sports and scouting, as well as the

children's church activities in North Carolina and Georgia.

She relocated to Gainesville, FL with her family when her husband's employer, Nationwide

Insurance Company, established a regional headquarters there. She was active as a member of

First Baptist Church, Gainesville, serving both as a member and later chairman of the hospitality

committee, and as a member of the welcoming committee, and Vacation Bible School. She also

served as a volunteer at North Florida Regional Hospital for many years.

She participated in a Gainesville ladies bowling league for over 20 years, and was an avid Gator

basketball fan and member of the Tip Off Club for many years.

Her Lord and her family were the centerpiece of her life. Her home was the family gathering

place for holidays and special occasions. She loved spending time with her children,

grandchildren and great-grand children, and devoted her love and talents to nurturing and serving

them.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Bob; her son, Robert, Jr. (Sandra); daughter,

Sharon Barwick (Eric); grandsons, Brandon Lape and Scott Harrison (Olivia), and

granddaughters, Brooke Wain, (Josh) and Brittany Chestnut (Dakota), great-grandsons Christian

Lape, Aaron Lape, Garrett Harrison and Jesse Dakota Chestnut, Great- granddaughter McKinlee

Harrison, brother, Jim Perkins (Paula), and many extended relatives in North Carolina,

Oklahoma and Florida. She was predeceased in death by her sister Kathy Lanning (Hoy), and her

infant sister, Julia Annette Perkins.

A memorial service will be conducted at First Baptist Church of Gainesville (14105 NW 39th Avenue

Gainesville, FL 32606, (352) 376-4681). Service will take place on March 21st, 2026, at 11:00 AM