Patricia Ford Hula

Patricia Ford Hula (Queen), 69, died, in Rock Hill, SC, - Sunday, April 24 in the evening.Pat was surrounded by her beloved family and friends. Pat and her insulin pump, Frank, lived 18 years past her projected life span and worked, played, loved, worshipped, and made a real difference in every one of those years. Pat began making a difference in 1975 by working with two friends to start the Sunshine Nursery School still operating at the Providence Forge Presbyterian Church in Virginia. She began her life-changing advocacy for individuals with disabilities as President of the Virginia Association for Children with Learning Disabilities and member of the VA DD Council in the 1980's. After the death of her beloved husband Marvin in 1985, Pat and her children moved to Charlotte where she became a Board member of the NC Autism Society and started the first parent support group with Charlotte TEACCH. Pat continued her remarkable career as an early Parent Educator for the Exceptional Children's Assistance Center (ECAC) and the first paid advocate for the NC Autism Society. She was also a founding participant in the first NC family support initiative, became one of the original Consultants for NC First in Families, and was co-founder of Community Integration Training Inc. (CITI). Pat had many varied interests. One of those in particular was butterflies, which she studied and on which became quite the expert. Pat graduated from High School in Winnsboro, South Carolina, graduated from Winthrop College, and received a Masters in Special Education and Supported Employment from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She was a Lay Pastor at Union Mills Presbyterian Church in Union Mills NC,a long term member of Rutherford Presbyterian Church in Rutherfordton, NC and a current member of Good Shepard Presbyterian Church in Charlotte NC. Pat was definitely a good friend to many and loved to celebrate with her friends. Her "you all come" birthday party at the Waffle House in Rutherfordton was a much anticipated annual event. She also kept everyone looking good by assertively selling Mary Kay products. Pat loved and was loved by her family. The last months of her life were full of family visits and fun managed by her remarkable sister Linda who was her housemate, nurse, advocate, cook, entertainment director, secretary, and MUCH More. Pat was predeceased by her parents, Robert and Margaret Ford of York County SC and was the widow of Marvin Hula, Charles City, Va. She is survived by her much loved sons and their families: Edward (Ted) Hula of Charlotte with granddog Maggie and William D. Hula, wife Shannon, and grandsons Bohdan and Calvin of of Leechburg Pa.; twin sisters, Linda Tate and her husband Rick, Rock Hill, SC and Brenda Ford, Blacksburg, SC; her brother Bill Ford and his wife Clara of Columbia, SC; and 8 nieces and nephews, 1 great niece and 2 great nephews. Her former husband, Thomas F Queen, Sr. three step children and 9 step grandchildren also survive along many close friends and hundreds of families and individuals with disabilities who have been touched by her advocacy during the past 25 years. A celebration of Pat's life will be held Saturday, April 30 at Good Shepard Presbyterian Church, 3307 Rea Road, Charlotte, NC, 28226 at 2:00. The family will receive friends from 12:30-1:30 at the church. Burial will be at a later date in the family cemetery in Abbeville, South Carolina. Memorial donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Charlotte Chapter, 2025 Regency Executive Park Drive, Suite 102, Charlotte, NC 28217 Pat loved people, loved God, loved to voice her opinion, loved to have fun, and loved to laugh. She will be missed.

Visitation Details

Saturday, April 30th, 2016 12:30pm - 1:30pm, Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church

Service Information

Saturday, April 30th, 2016 2:00pm, Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church