Patsy Ann Dolphin

(1938–2024)

Pat died suddenly on March 14, 2024, after a sudden stroke.    

She was born in Harrison, Arkansas, to Aubrey and Mary Hicks.   When she was very little her Dad got a transfer to California as a Brakeman for the railroad.  Her family moved to Barstow for his job. She remembered a long train ride across the United States to their new home.

She described her high school days just like the movie, “American Graffiti,” where kids cruised in their cars and met up at the Frosty Freeze after the game.   She graduated in 1956 from Barstow High School and was soon married to Bud Honey.  They had two children, her daughter Mendy and her son Steve.

Several years later, after getting divorced, she got a job as a Dispatcher with the California Highway Patrol. While working there she was shot in the shoulder inside the police station by an officer who jokingly pointed a gun at her and it misfired. Pat maintained that it was because she wouldn’t date him. 

In 1970, she married Douglas Dean Dolphin.  They had a daughter Dani.  They moved to Oak Glen, California where they opened a store in Oak Tree Village called Cheese-n-Stuff. They lived in Oak Glen for several years and Pat even worked part-time at Los Rios Ranchos selling apples and gifts. She loved the White Christmases and was always found sitting in front of the fireplace.

In 1983, Pat, Doug and Dani moved to Abilene, Texas.  Life was very different in West Texas. Pat got into bowling more frequently and was a Housewife. They bought an acre of land with a boat dock at Lake Brownwood in Brownwood, Texas. They would drive their RV and stay there enjoying boating, fishing and hanging out in the countryside. 

After losing her Mom Mary to cancer in 1987, the family moved back to California to beautiful Dana Point. She was now closer to her four grandchildren Ericka, Matt, Jason and Lauren.

Pat began to travel the East Coast to compete in the Women’s Professional Bowling Tour.

Her husband Doug was diagnosed with cancer in the Fall of 1988. While Doug was going through cancer treatment, Pat had to go back to full-time work as a Dispatcher for the San Clemente Police Department. She kept her family afloat and Doug passed away in August 1989 at 45 years old. 

Pat became a Crime Scene Investigator for the San Clemente Police Department and later with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. 

Pat loved the beach and eventually settled in Laguna Beach. She was lucky to live in a house on the sand in Laguna Beach for over 15 years. The house once belonged to John Wayne and had an electric tram down the cliff to the beach. Many fun parties and gatherings took place there.

She loved to hear live country music and go dancing. On one particular night she took a swing on the dance floor with a tall cowboy named Mel Driscoll. They soon were an item and began to travel all over going to Spain, France and several states. They enjoyed western festivals, cowboy poetry and horse racing. Mel bought a few race horses and they loved to watch them train and compete.  

Pat was hired to the Newport Beach Police Department. She wanted less violent crimes to investigate. One of her first cases with Newport Beach was a yacht burglary. It was a welcome change from gang shootings. She also had neck surgery to alleviate pain from the three times she had been rear ended at high speeds while driving the Coroner’s Van.  Pat retired there after many years as a Crime Scene Investigator.

In 2008, Mel died suddenly from a heart attack. Pat again lost another loved one. They had “danced” for nearly 17 years together.

She became blessed with two more grandchildren named Jackie and Dean. She had six grandchildren.

She began playing bridge again and became a Master Level Bridge Player.  She was active in the Dana Harbor Bridge Club in Dana Point.   

Pat went back to bowling. She bowled in several leagues and one team was an all male team that were all born and raised in the Philippines. They adored her. 

Pat continued to travel on her own. She went on a river cruise through Germany with her friend Carolyn and took another vacation to Hawaii. She took many girls’ trips to New Mexico, Nevada and the East Coast.

She loved to play cards and was excellent at Pai Gow, Poker and Blackjack. She loved to gamble and was really good at it. Dani recalled a trip to Vegas with her Mom where she couldn’t keep her eyes open and Pat continued to clean house at the Pai Gow table way past 2:00 am. 

She loved watching sports especially the Lakers and the Dodgers. She went to many little league, water polo, volleyball, basketball and t-ball games of all of her grandkids.

Pat lived in Orange County for several more years.  She was further blessed with the birth of three great-grandchildren named Andrew, Benjamin and Madilyn.  In 2022, she eventually moved to the Sun Lakes Community in Banning to be closer to the majority of her family.

She loved to watch movies and anything to do with crime or law enforcement; especially Law and Order. She could never watch any CSI show though because she would hate how unrealistic it was.

More than anything, Pat loved being with her kids and grandkids. 

She believed Jesus Christ was the Son of God. She loved attending South Shores Church in Monarch Beach. She participated in many church functions and Bible studies. 

She is survived by 3 children Mendy (Ron) Smith, Steve (Leslie) Dolphin and Danelle (Barry) McPeak. She is also survived by 8 grandchildren Ericka (Keith) Deike, Matt (Erin) Smith, Jason Dolphin, Jackie & Dean McPeak and great-grandchildren Andrew & Benjamin Deike and Madilyn Smith.

She was preceded in death by husband Doug Dolphin, boyfriend Mel Driscoll and granddaughter Lauren Dolphin.

Services were held Thursday, March 28, 2024, at 2:15 p.m. at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd. in Riverside, CA.  She will be placed next to her husband Doug Dolphin at the Columbarium.  Her Eulogy was presented by Pastor John Martinez of Sandals Church.  A Reception followed at Sandals Church Woodcrest, 17421 Van Buren Blvd. in Riverside, CA.

May her light shine as bright in Heaven as it did on Earth.

She was our Mom, our Grandma, our Great-Grandma, our Aunt and our friend. Until we meet again.

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