Obituary of Patty Birkle

PETERSBURG - Patty A. Birkle, age 78, died Monday, June 7, 2010 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Florence. She was the owner/operator of Petersburg Coal, Oil and Water Company and a member of both the Bullittsville Christian Church & Petersburg Christian Church. Patty was a cornerstone of the Petersburg community and was often referred to as "Granny". While serving as an E.M.T. since 1979 and a member of the Petersburg Fire Department since 1959 (she received her certification in 1992), she went out on a call two weeks prior to her death. In 2006, Petersburg was able to secure a grant to open the Petersburg Community Center as a result of her walking door to door to get surveys filled out and the signatures required for the grant. In addition, Patty was always involved in outreach for her church either through quilting, crocheting, or baking one of her cherished cream pies. She was preceded in death by her husband, Theodore Birkle, Jr.; (2) sons, Joseph Birkle and Danny Ray Birkle; and her grandson, Danny Ray Lancaster. Survivors include her son, William E. Birkle of Petersburg; (2) daughters, Rebecca A. Lancaster of Petersburg and Mollie J. Leibecke of Aurora, IN; sister, Vera Gripshover of Petersburg; grandchildren - David Lancaster, Mary Ellen Schneider, Mollie-Beth Leibecke-Pustelnik, Bethany Stahl, Patricia Gaines, Joseph Birkle, Amanda Wilson; and great grandchildren - Carter Schneider, Owen Schneider, Haley Schneider, Jordan Pustelnik, Jenny Lancaster and Danni Stah. Visitation will be Thursday, June 10, 2010 from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Petersburg Community Center at 3018 Second Street, PO Box 68, Petersburg, Kentucky 41080. Funeral services will be Friday at 10 a.m. at Petersburg Christian Church, 6561 Tanner Street, Petersburg, KY 41080. Interment will be at Burlington Cemetery. Memorials can be made to Petersburg Christian Church or Bullittsville Christian Church, 3094 Petersburg Road, Burlington, KY 41005-8793.