Birth: March 18, 1932 Death: August 21, 2024 Patricia “Patsy” Gates Barnwell OBITUARY Patricia “Patsy” Gates Barnwell was born in Coral Gables in 1932. She grew up there with her mother Ethel and sister Barbara. Her father Warren passed away when she was 12.
Patsy and her sister Barbara worked in her parent’s grocery Gates Market in Coral Gables. Patsy was a cheerleader at Ponce de Leon High School where she graduated and went on to be a cheerleader at Florida State University. Patsy was a member of The FSU Flying High Circus under Coach Haskins.
She was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority, FSU Cheerleader Captain, KA Sweetheart, and won the honor of FSU Inter-Fraternity Sweetheart Queen. This is where she met and married her husband, Ben Barnwell, a KA member at FSU. This was so very happy time in her life.
Patsy and Ben married in 1953. Ben and Patsy welcomed 3 children: Bill, Cathy and Paul. From Miami they moved to Fort Wayne, IN where Ben got his Engineering Degree and Patsy taught Elementary School.
They moved back to Florida living in Merritt Island and the Palm Beach area where Ben decided to go into the Restaurant Business opening Barbeque Ben’s and Ben’s Steakhouse. The family then moved to Orlando where they opened Barney’s Bar BQ and Barney’s Steak and Seafood restaurants. Patsy helped Ben open, manage and operate the restaurants along with her son Paul.
The restaurants won numerous awards in Orlando. Patsy was a dedicated mother to her children. She liked to travel and enjoyed many trips abroad with her husband Ben, sister Barbara and mother Ethel.
Patsy deeply loved her granddaughter Caitlyn and was very proud of her academic achievements. Caitlyn graduated with Honors from SMU and obtained her Master of Science in Finance. Patsy is survived by her daughter Cathy Barnwell Rutan ( husband Ken Rutan), Son Paul Barnwell (wife Helen Barnwell), granddaughter Caitlyn Rutan Conway( husband Quinn Conway), niece Alison McCrink ( husband Frank McCrink) and nephew David Booher and cousins who she enjoyed visiting her.
Patsy’s beautiful smile would light up a room. She will be forever missed by her family and leave a legacy of love and nurturing. A graveside Celebration of Life and Burial will be held on September 7th in Miami, Florida at Flagler Memorial Park at 1:00 PM Honor with Flowers In memory of Patricia Plant a Living Memorial In memory of Patricia.
