Biography:


Patricia Wilson, Courtney, Thomas, O’Donoghue, age 92 died July 24th, 2025 in Little Rock, AR.  She was born October 1, 1932 to Mary Kathryn Sharp Wilson and William Octavius Wilson at Imboden, AR and her cremains will be interred in the family cemetery in Imboden, AR at a later date.  Survivors include her three remaining children:  Jay Steven Courtney of Clinton, AR, Lawrence W. Courtney (Peggy) of Mt. Pleasant, SC and Leigh P. Thomas of Little Rock, AR, a grandson: William D. Courtney of Mt. Pleasant, SC and her brother: Dr. Jim Wilson (Katharine) of Fayetteville, AR.  She is predeceased by her parents, her oldest daughter, Catherine Olivia Courtney and her three husbands.

Pat was educated in Little Rock public schools.  She skipped the eleventh grade and graduated in the top ten percent of the twelfth grade.  She attended Little Rock Junior College.  Her first marriage was to a returning veteran: R. Conrad Courtney.  They had three children: Catherine O. Courtney, deceased; J. Steven Courtney of Clinton, AR; Lawrence W. Courtney (Peggy) and son William D. Courtney of Mt. Pleasant, SC.  From her second marriage to Paul W. Thomas, she had a daughter, Leigh P. Thomas of Little Rock, AR.  Her third marriage was to Thomas I. O’Donoghue, a widower and native of Ireland.  She became a proud step mother to his four children:  Michael V. O’Donoghue (Elena) of Baskerville, VA; Patricia A. Ricoleau (Jean-Jacques) of Nanterre, France; Maureen M. O’Donoghue of Little Rock, AR; and John F. O’Donoghue (Beth) of Hillsboro Beach, FL.

Pat had the privilege of being a stay-at-home Mom until all of her children were in school.  She then worked in dentistry for eighteen years.  Later she had a fun job as head of the luggage department at Dillards, where she worked for many years.  As a young Mother, she saw the disruptive effect of closed schools after the integration Crisis of 1957 at Little Rock High School (Central) and joined the highly secret underground group of housewives who called themselves the “Women’s Emergency Committee to Keep Our Schools Open”, or WEC.  Her name is inscribed on the glass panel at the Terry Mansion in Little Rock, AR as: Mrs. R. Conrad Courtney.

Pat was also a longtime member of The Arkansas Pioneers Association of Pulaski County who’s mission is to honor and preserve the traditions of our pioneer ancestors and to quicken and preserve the spirit of patriotism.

Pat especially enjoyed attending the LRHS (Central) monthly luncheons and sent out regular emails to many Tigers over the US.

Pat was a Christian, with a firm belief in God.  She was a protestant for forty nine years, and after marrying a Roman Catholic from Ireland, she then had her church home at Christ the King Catholic Church.

Pat was eternally grateful for all her wonderful years spent in Little Rock, for her family, extended families and friends; and especially for the loving care, during her later years, bestowed on her by her youngest daughter, Leigh P. Thomas.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 3 p.m. in the chapel at Ruebel Funeral Home.

Obituary, memories and condolences may be shared at: RuebelFuneralHom.com