Member Highlight

MAS Member Highlight: Pat Wiltgen

Alice Patricia Miller came from a large family of 13 children. She was number 11 of 7 brothers and 4 sisters. She is the last one living of the “original clan.” Pat and her family lived in Pennsylvania until they moved to the west coast where both of her parents were born. They landed in Sacramento, California during WWII. This is where Pat lived when she met and married her first husband, who was
in the Coast Guard. “We followed him up and down the California coast, having 4 children born to us during that time: two boys and two girls.” Her husband was stationed on Angel Island in San Francisco Bay for 2 years followed by living in Monterey, and San Simone. “I could see the Hearst Castle out of my kitchen window.” Pat’s husband then was moved to Pensacola, Florida during the Vietnam war,
where they lived for 3 years. It was there that her husband was given a choice of getting out of the service, or going to Vietnam. “I asked him to PLEASE get out, and he did.”

The family moved from Florida to Oregon, settling in Colton. Pat began volunteering for the Loaves and Fishes program when it was in the basement of the Methodist Church in Molalla. She served for 7 years and also helped them move to their new location. She also  worked for Home Extension, and for the Moose Lodge when they were in a pinch. It was a blessing to get out of the house, as her husband worked nights and she could not do a thing during the day while he slept. She also enjoyed working at the Senior Center, having fun with Anna Woodman and Sandy Latrell.

Pat’s husband then died of a heart attack and she had to find work outside of the home because she had a daughter who was still in school. She worked part-time as a bartender and waitress until she found work cleaning houses for seniors in Molalla. She did this until she was 65 years old. During those years, she
remarried to a fireman named Donovan. They were together 18 years when he passed away from cancer in 2004.

In September of 2004, the same year she lost her husband, her home in Colton burned down. Pat moved to Molalla with Verna Brame for 2 months until an apartment became available. She lived there for a year until she married a wonderful man named Bob Wiltgen, who used to bowl with Donovan. His wife had passed away from cancer the same month as Donovan passed. Pat was married to Bob for 9 and a half years before he passed away from congestive heart failure.

Now Pat enjoys the fun at the Adult Center. Whenever she can, she tries to go on the fun trips that the center offers. “They helped me in the times of my life when I needed them. They were there when my house burned down, finding furniture, a bed, linen, and house stuff and all the support I needed. The Adult Center is my home away from home. I am so thankful for the years of love and support they have given me.”

Written for MAS by Carma Puffer