SEYMOUR — Former Indiana first lady Patricia Whitcomb died on June 27 at the age of 91.
She was the widow of former Gov. Edgar Whitcomb, who served one term as Indiana governor, from 1969-73.
She graduated from Greenfield High School and Ward Belmont College in Nashville, Tennessee, before meeting her future husband, then a state senator, while working at an L.S. Ayres department store in Indianapolis. They had five children as Edgar Whitcomb’s law practice in the Seymour area grew and his political career advanced.
Gov. Eric Holcomb has directed flags across the state to be flown at half-staff in Whitcomb’s honor until sunset July 12. Holcomb said Whitcomb “served Hoosiers during her time as first lady with honor and grace.”
Patricia and Edgar Whitcomb divorced in 1987 after 36 years of marriage. Edgar Whitcomb, who escaped from a Japanese prisoner camp by swimming overnight during World War II, died in 2016 at age 98. Pat Whitcomb lived the latter part of her life in Seymour, where she was active in her community.
