Patricia A. Milton

Patricia Ann Milton, 93, of Manteno, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 4, 2023. She was a devoted wife to her late husband, Wendell, for 74 years. Their life together left a great legacy. Together they raised five children, all of whom survive them: Juliene Forrestal (John) of Bourbonnais, John Milton (Connie) of Santa Clarita, CA, James Milton (Terri) of Abilene, TX, Janet Skuba of San Jose, CA, and Jennifer Milton-Houlton (Jim) of Louisville, KY. She is also survived by her 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Born on Dec. 5, 1930, in Chicago, she moved with her family to California as a teen. She met and married Wendell at age 18 and was a farm wife for the early years of their marriage. She dearly loved her life on the farm, where they raised their family. They attended DeSelm United Methodist Church for many years, and later Grace Baptist Church. Her faith was very important to the way she lived her life and raised her family. Patricia went back to college to become a teacher and enjoyed a career as a teacher for 25 years at Bruning Elementary in Wilmington. Teaching was a great passion for her, as was travelling. Together she and Wendell visited over 20 countries and all 50 states in their years of travelling, taking many of their grandchildren along on their adventures. Patricia was also an avid reader, and a very loyal patron of the public library. National Geographic magazines were a fixture in her home. She enjoyed crossword puzzles and would never turn down an opportunity to play Scrabble. She is preceded in death by her siblings, Juliene Mason and Linda Gavelek, and her husband, Wendell Milton. Memorials may be made to Uplifted Care of Bourbonnais or the Manteno Public Library. A Celebration of Life will take place on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 10am at Manteno United Methodist Church.