Patricia Wedlock (Pat) Wedlock

Patricia (Pat) Ann Apple Wedlock was born April 28, 1944 in Los Angeles, California to parents Allie Ray Apple and Angeline (Angie) Surbaro Apple. Though her father died before she was born, her mother fell in love with and married Stanley Lewis Wedlock when Pat was two years old. Stanley adopted Pat, and over the next sixteen years Stanley and Angie welcomed Pat’s six siblings: Linda (Ronald), Mary (Steve), Gregory (Debbie Jo), Philip, Monica, and Debra (Gregg). Raised in Gardena, California, Pat attended St. Anthony of Padua School. She graduated both high school and college in Terra Haute, Indiana at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods earning a bachelor’s degree in education. She later acquired a master’s in Administration and Leadership. From an early age, Pat knew she wanted to be a teacher and worked her entire career to encourage learning. It is said that one way to measure the impact of a person's life is to reflect on the number of people they serve. Countless individuals have benefited from her philanthropist spirit and serving heart through her generous monetary support and the gift of her time. As a lifelong professional educator, Pat served thousands of students in the Los Angeles Unified School District. A good portion of her career was spent at Manchester Avenue Elementary — first as a classroom teacher and then as a math specialist creating opportunities for students to understand the concepts of mathematics in concrete and engaging activities. Obtaining her administration certification led to leadership roles of Vice Principal at Paseo del Rey Elementary, Principal at Emelita Street Elementary and Principal at Leland Street Elementary. Pat was an admired educator and adjunct professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She finished her career as the Intervention Administrator for Local District South. Pat was an avid reader and enjoyed socializing with her book club as well as with her knitting club friends. For her many friends and family members, Pat created the most beautiful greeting cards with stamps, decorative papers, and bobbles. Her cards never failed to elicit delight from those lucky enough to receive them. Having no children of her own, Pat often spoiled her nieces and nephews with handmade gifts of stuffed animals, Christmas stockings, and hooked rugs. The baby blankets she crocheted were proudly displayed on each of their beds and remain treasured reminders of her generosity to this day. Pat also took her nieces and nephews to bookstores to instill a love of reading and to craft stores to stock up on supplies for her many projects with them. In her retirement, Pat continued to serve others, volunteering at Torrance Memorial Medical Center and as the Auxiliary Corresponding Secretary at Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women and Children. Pat died at home on February 11, 2024. She will be sorely missed. She is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Linda and her brother Gregory. A funeral mass will be offered at St. Lawrence Martyr Catholic Church at 1940 S. Prospect Avenue, Redondo Beach, CA at 2:00 pm on Monday, February 19, 2024 with a reception at the church to follow. Please join us. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Pat’s memory to Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women and Children (gschomeless.org).