Patricia Greene Towne, 79, of Chapel Hill died peacefully at her home on September 15, 2012. She was born in NYC on December 4, 1932 and earned a BA in English from Fordham University in 1956. She was a freelance editor of books and academic publications and enjoyed occasional stints in the offices of the UNC English Department and Law School. She was a voracious reader with a passion for mysteries and the works of P. G. Wodehouse. She participated in multiple books sales sponsored by the Friends of Durham County Public Library and was a devoted gardener. While raising 4 girls in Ramsey NJ and Sherborn MA, she organized a cooperative nursery school, was a leader in 4-H, Campfire Girls, and supervised a church junior choir. She was an experienced tax preparer and a member of the Sherborn Grange. Patricia was an accomplished needle worker. She bred Himalayan cats and loved felines of all stripes. She moved to Chapel Hill with her family in 1980.

She is survived by William S. Towne, her husband of 54 years and her four daughters: Sarah Gibson of Austin, Jessica Towne of Atlanta, Cassandra Richardson of Greensboro, and Patricia Lange of Memphis, as well as eight grandchildren ages 5 to 23. No services are planned. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made through the NC Botanical Gardens web site at: ncbg.unc.edu.