Patricia Kemper

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Prayers will begin Saturday, Feb. 8, at 9:30 a.m. at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Poland Chapel, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at the Holy Family Church, for Patricia Ann Kemper, 78, who died Monday evening at home surrounded by her family.
Patricia was born Jan. 12, 1936, in New Castle, Pa., to Phillip John and June Louise (DeGarmo) Murray.
She served in the U.S. Army as a WAC and graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Master's in Education. Patricia worked for 25 years for the Richland District 1 in Columbia, S.C., as an elementary school teacher, retiring in 1998. She was devoted to her students.
She was a member of St. Joseph Church in Columbia, and the Holy Family Parish in Poland, Ohio. She volunteered generously with the St. Joseph's Women's Society, the Holy Family Parish senior program, and other community programs that supported children, the poor and animal welfare. She loved travel, history, genealogy, and adventures to Disney with friends and family.
Patricia is survived by her children, Karen Kemper of Greenville, S.C., and Richard Kemper of Columbia; and several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, Patricia was preceded in death by her twin sister, Barbara Ann Murray; sister June Eileen Hunt; and brothers Phillip Arthur Murray and Daniel Michael Murray.
Family and friends may call on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
The family has requested that material tributes take the form of donations to either Interim Health Care Hospice of Greenville, S.C., (16 Hyland Road, Greenville, SC 29615, 1-800-758-4966 ) or the Cancer Society of Greenville County, 113 Mills Ave., Greenville, SC 29605.