Rebecca Young Patrick, age 68, of Front Royal, VA, went home to be with the Lord on May 6, 2023, ending her battle with lung cancer. Rebecca passed peacefully at Winchester Medical Center surrounded by her family and life-long friends.
Rebecca is survived by her father and stepmother, the Rev. Jerry and Joann Young; stepbrothers, Rob and Steve Landreth; sister and brother-in-law, Debra and the Rev. Timothy Dyke; brother and sister-in-law, Kerry Dale and Wendy Young; nieces and nephews; and a host of friends in Virginia, the U.S. and around the world.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Sammy Joanne Young; and her brother, Jerry Young Jr.
Born in Roanoke, VA on May 17, 1954, Rebecca spent her earliest years in Rocky Mount, VA before moving to Front Royal, where she graduated from high school. She retired from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after more than three decades of awarded service.
Throughout her career, Rebecca traveled the world, living in both Guam and the Virgin Islands. She helped manage the emergency response to numerous natural disasters, including Hurricane Katrina, and was deployed to Ground Zero on September 11 following the attack on the World Trade Center.
A born-again Christian, Becky loved the Lord and was active in multiple churches where her travels took her. She had a passion for empowering younger generations and was a loving aunt, a mentor to young women, and a donor to child-focused charities.
A curious soul and lifelong learner, Becky was a regular at the library and in multiple book clubs. She enjoyed her retirement by reading on the beach at the Outer Banks, road tripping with family and friends, and even enrolling in college to learn to silverwork. She was a member of the Jewelry Guild of North Carolina and was just two classes short of an associate’s degree in silversmithing. In her last weeks, Becky was still learning, aspiring to master authentic Italian cooking with the help of her friend Toni.
Her funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 13 at 11 a.m. at Rivermont Baptist Church, 575 Catlett Mountain Road, Front Royal, with a meal to follow. The family will receive visitors at 10 a.m. prior to the service.
A graveside service and interment will be held on Monday, May 15 at 11:00 a.m. at the Kemper-Hale Cemetery, Ferrum, VA.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rebecca’s honor to the children’s ministry at Rivermont Baptist Church.
She seems a woman after my own heart.
I smile at and with her and all of you as I read this obituary tribute and celebration of a life that touched everyone and a life certainly well lived❤️🌈🫶🙏
My love and support to the entire family..
What a loving and caring lady. My love and support to Debra and the entire family.💕🙏💕
Sending love and prayers to the family during this difficult time.
Rebecca was a very sweet lady and will be deeply missed. My heart goes out to the family praying for you all 🙏💕
So sorry for your loss prayers to the family.
Rebecca was always up for anything, ready to help anyone, anytime, and her positive outlook was
infectious.
She will be greatly missed on this earth by all of us who knew and loved her, but I am focusing on her
beautiful welcoming party in Heaven, where she is reunited with her loved ones!
Becky was a mentor and friend. I was saddened to hear of her untimely departure from this life. Becky was an amazing soul, she embodied grace, strength, compassion, humility, and love. She had a way of inspiring then empowering those around her. I will never be able to fully express the gratitude I have for the impact Becky made in my life. I know for certain that Becky’s legacy will forever live on in those whose life she touched. I know we will see her again on the other side ♥️
I like to think that God allowed a “homecoming committee” for Rebecca —her mom, her brother (my Honeybun), and, of course, Grandma & Grandpa Young (who always welcomed the family to the farm❤️). What sweet memories they left for us! One of my sweetest memories of Rebecca came at the time of one of my saddest memories: when Jerry was fighting his final battle with cancer. Rebecca took time off work and came to help take care of her brother. I will always be thankful that she wanted to come alongside us and share the burden. That’s what family is all about…loving…caring…sharing!