Patricia Osborne Smith

Patricia Osborne Smith, age 96, died at home in Pittsburgh, March 6, 2024.

Born in Bronxville NY, Patsy grew up in Litchfield, CT., the daughter of Loyall Allen Osborne, Jr. (of Pittsburgh) and Emily Montague Cooke Osborne (of Honolulu, Hawaii). She had one sister, Anne O. Swain, who predeceased her. 

After spending four years at Chatham Hall, Patsy graduated from Vassar College in 1950 with a BA in English. Following graduation she married Robert L. Becker, Jr., an attorney in Pittsburgh, at St. Michael's Church in Litchfield.  The Beckers had three children.  In 1980 she married Wallace W. Smith, Jr. of Fox Chapel, who predeceased her.

Devoted to the arts in Pittsburgh, Patsy served on various committees throughout her life at the Carnegie Museum of Art, including the Women's Committee, and the Three Rivers Arts Festival.  Along with civil and voting rights, Patsy was most passionate about the power of literacy and spent more than half her life advocating for and working with adult students learning to read and write through the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council (now Literacy Pittsburgh).  She served as President of the Council's Board of Directors.  The Smiths were also founding donors of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center in Pittsburgh. 

Patsy is survived by her three children Anne B. Hulley (Northampton, MA), Emily B. Naunheim (O'Fallon, IL) and Robert L. Becker III (New York, NY and Cornwall, CT); four step-children from her second marriage, Pamela Stodolsky, Wallace W. Smith III (Ladan), Sarah Smith (Robert Davidson) and Steuart Smith (Dana); eight grandchildren, Nathan Hulley, Emily Hulley Keating, Elizabeth Hulley Sukhovskaya, Timothy Hulley, James Hulley, Anastasia Hulley Sandoval, Mariya Hulley and Margaret Naunheim Grubb; and fourteen great grandchildren. Two sons-in-law predeceased her, David A. Hulley and David E. Abrams.  

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Merwin Conservancy on Maui, Literacy Pittsburgh, or the August Wilson African American Cultural Center. A memorial service for Patsy will be held at Calvary Episcopal Church, 315 Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh, May 10, 2024 at 2pm. Arrangements by John A. Freyvogel Sons, Inc. (freyvogelfuneralhome.com)

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