Obituary of Patricia Mogel Coogler

Patricia Mogel Coogler, 69, was called home to the Lord Jesus Christ on Monday, March 23, 2015 with family members by her side. Born in Reading, PA, on August 16, 1945 she was the daughter of Russell Paul Mogel, Sr. and the late Jeanette Shirey Johns. She was a 1963 graduate of West Reading High School and attended the University of Maryland. Pat was a specialty dental assistant for over 40 years, first in private practice and then as a civilian with the Army Dental Corps. She retired from Civil Service at Fort Jackson, SC, with 26 years of service. She received numerous awards and citations for her professionalism and expertise as a dental assistant, and for her community service. She received the Commanders Award for Civilian Service from the Dental Activity Commander, the Civilian Superior Service Award (third highest government award for civil service employees) when she retired in 2011, as well as a Commanders Award for Public Service from the Commanding General of Fort Jackson in 1998. Pat was a selfless Christian who spent her entire adult life caring for others. In addition to caring for her family, she provided dental treatment to thousands of people of all branches of the military. All her patients were treated with the same compassion, courtesy and respect. At Walter Reed Army Medical Center, she treated cancer, burn and cleft palate patients. She treated soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division and Special Operation Command at Fort Bragg, NC, as well as cadre and trainees at Ft. Jackson, SC. She worked in Army hospitals in both Stuttgart and Augsburg, Germany, including the time of the first Persian Gulf War. She vigorously supported her husband and his soldiers during six years of command assignments in Germany, Saudi Arabia and Fort Jackson. Pat loved being an Army wife. Her dedication to others continued after her retirement when she joined Greenlawn Baptist Church. She continually worked on projects such as making dresses for little girls in Zimbabwe, making Christmas boxes for Samaritans Purse, being an usher, working in Vacation Bible School, working on the Halloween program, caring for young children during church service, collecting food products for various projects or planning trips for church seniors. Pat rejoiced in the beauty of God's creation. She enjoyed identifying and feeding backyard birds and watching the squirrels play. She celebrated her Pennsylvania Dutch heritage and loved the Blue Ridge Mountains. Most especially, she adored her grandchildren, whom she regularly traveled to visit. They called her "Nonnah". Pat was recently predeceased by her brother, Russell Paul Mogel, Jr. (Barbara), of Chesapeake Beach, MD. She is survived by her loving husband of 27 years, Dr. Arthur C. Coogler, Jr., of Columbia; her father, Russell P. Mogel (Evelyn), of Lenhartsville, PA; two daughters, Shawn Huntley (Chuck), of Matthews, NC; Deborah Fitzmaurice (Mike), of North Scottsdale, AZ; one son, Barry Haag, Jr., of Newmanstown, PA; two step-daughters, Virginia Cornish (David) of Indian Land, SC, and Laura Johnson (Alan) of Pisgah Forest, NC; ten grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and three step-grandchildren. In the Reading, PA, area, she is survived by four half-siblings, Gary Mogel (Karen), Rusty Mogel (Beth), Sharon Leiby and Karen Borrell (Dan). Nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends also mourn her loss. The family wishes to thank Dr. Charles Butler and chemo nurses Dusty and Anne at SCOA, Dr. James Nottingham, the nurses and staff on oncology Ward 11E at Richland Hospital, and the nurses and staff at Wildewood Downs Rehab Center for their compassionate care. Services will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at Greenlawn Baptist Church, 6612 Garners Ferry Rd., Columbia, SC 29209 at 11:00 A.M., with Rev. Dr. Terry Cagle officiating. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 7:30 P.M. on Friday, March 27, at Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 845 Leesburg Rd., Columbia, SC 29209. Interment will be held at Fort Jackson National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Greenlawn Baptist Church, 6612 Garners Ferry Rd., Columbia, SC 29209, or to the Center for Colon Cancer Research, 712 Main St., Rm. 614, Jones PSC, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208.