Patricia Tucker Turk

The Turk family mourns the passing of our loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and mother-in-law at the age of 90 on May 14, 2023.  She passed away peacefully at home, after a brief illness, with her children by her side.

Pat was born and raised in Lancaster Pennsylvania.  She graduated from Sweet Briar College in 1955 and started working in Washington, DC upon graduation.  She met her husband-to-be, S. Maynard Turk soon thereafter and they married in 1957.  Pat and Maynard started their life together in Radford, VA.  In 1959, Maynard’s career in the Legal Department at Hercules brought them to Wilmington, DE.

Pat was a lifelong athlete playing basketball and field hockey in high school and then collegiate field hockey. She was an avid tennis player into her 50s and then took up golf later in life.  She began playing bridge with a passion in her 50s, often traveling to tournaments to earn points towards her achievement as a Life Master bridge player. Other passions included tending to her flower garden, traveling, the theatre, reading great books by the fire, participating in several book clubs, dancing, hosting holiday gatherings and spending time with family and friends. She also was in service to others through her years in the Jr. League, and her Board work with Delaware Pro-Choice.

Over the years her primary focus and passion was raising her three children and although they did not always take to heart the wisdom of her advice at the time, over the years they came to appreciate its value and impact on their lives. She then became a doting grandmother to her seven grandchildren who will all miss their cherished “Moma.”  She was blessed to have her one great-grandchild in 2021.

Pat was pre-deceased by her loving husband of sixty years, S. Maynard in 2017.  She was fortunate to spend her last years with her companion, Robert Barr Flinn, M.D. who pre-deceased her in 2022.  She is survived by her three children, Heather Fontaine, William Alexander (and wife Joyce), and Thomas Maynard Tucker (Barbara Best), her seven grandchildren Julia (Matt), Allison (Alex), Avery, Sam, Wyatt, Lydia, and Clark and her one great-grandchild, Leo who will all miss her immeasurably.  She also leaves behind her dear sisters, Nancy Wright and Sally Buckwalter, along with many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend its heartfelt gratitude for the caring and kindnesses from the personnel at Home Instead, Delaware Hospice, and Christ Church Christiana Hundred.