While the choirs in heaven sing with a new angel, the family of Patricia W. Fromal (Pat), are grieving the loss of their beloved matriarch. She passed into heaven on July 9th, 2021.

Patricia "Pat" Watkins was born on August 19th, 1943 in Wilmington, NC. Following WWII, her family moved to Hampton, VA where Pat would spend the rest of her life. Pat graduated from Hampton High in 1960 and received a full scholarship to nursing school at MCV, although she never became a nurse. In the summer of 1961, she met the love of her life, Charles and they were married in November that same year.  Pat and Charles would spend the next 56 years together until Charles passed in 2017. Along with raising 4 boys, Pat was a Girl Scout leader, a member of the junior women's club of Hampton, and an award-winning Tupperware salesperson.

In the early 1970s Pat started a job with H&R Block and discovered she had a great talent for doing taxes.  She began taking night courses at Christopher Newport College, got her Bachelor's degree in accounting, passed the CPA exam, and started her own accounting business.

In the 1980s she began studying law under another local attorney, passed the BAR exam and became one of only two people on the east coast that were both CPAs and attorneys. Pat's accomplishments earned her a trip to China in 1988, part of a goodwill mission to help China reestablish lawyers in that country.

In 1989, Pat and Charles opened a chain of video stores called "Video Corner".  They operated these stores for 10 years, as well as other businesses.  Pat continued to do tax returns for many of her clients until just a few years ago, when her health would no longer allow it.

Pat and Charles joined the Wythe Presbyterian Church in 1976 and she had been a member for 45 years.

Pat is preceded in death by her husband Charles; her son Thomas; and her grandson Christopher II.

She is survived by her sons Charles Jr (Cary), Christopher and wife Jenna, and Patrick and wife Kim; grandchildren Jacquelyn, Nina, Charles III (Tre), Xachery, Shaun, Amy, and Luke; great granddaughter Madeline (Maddie).

The family will receive friends Tuesday,  July 13th, 2021 between 6pm and 7:30pm at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home 245 S. Armistead Ave, Hampton. A funeral service will be held at Wythe Presbyterian Church at 11am on Wednesday July 14th with interment to follow.