Patricia J. Bivens

Patricia Jane Bivens, age 96, died on April 6, 2017 at 11:15 AM in the Knox County Nursing Home in Knoxville, Illinois where she had resided since July of 2010. Pat was born on January 21, 1921 in Green County Pennsylvania, the daughter of Clarence and Virginia Smith Hill. One of 10 children, she leaves a surviving sister Betty Sue Keiffer of Youngstown, Ohio. Brothers Everett, Jack, Bill and Junior along with sisters Christine Fitch, Twyla Chambers, Marti Minnick and Rose Kovey preceded her in death. She was first married to Arthur J. Wright, Sr. and later to John E. “Jack” Bivens, her life partner for over 50 years. He preceded her in death on January 15, 2011. She is survived by their children Artie (Karen) Wright, Greenville, NC; Georgene Thompson, Carlisle, PA; Jeff ( Peg) Bivens, Knoxville; and Patti Sue Arnold, Shell, Ecuador. There are eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and one great- great granddaughter. Pat graduated from Jefferson High School and attended Penn State University. She partnered with husband Jack in nursing home administration in Illinois both at the Elms Nursing Home in Bushnell and at Knox County Nursing Home in Knoxville. Pat combined her talent for cooking, her skill at administration, and her love of people in her work at Carl Sandburg Junior College where she retired in 1989 as director of food service. She continued to demonstrate caring for her family and friends throughout her retirement years while living in Midway, Georgia, and Avon, IL. Having partnered closely in their life together, it was their desire to be remembered together at their deaths. Visitation for Pat and Jack will be held Sunday April 9, 2017 from 5 -7 PM at Hurd Hendricks Funeral Home in Knoxville. Graveside service with internment of co-mingled ashes will be at Avon Cemetery in Avon, IL on April 10, 2017 at 11:00 AM with Mathew Hansen officiating. Memorials in Pat’s name have been established with Knoxville Sons of the American Legion for the Carl Sandburg College Student Scholarship and with Friends of the Knox County Nursing Home. Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Home and Crematory are in charge of arrangements. On-line condolences may be made at http://www.hurd-hendricksfuneralhome.com To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Patricia J. Bivens please visit our Sympathy Store.