Patricia Lou Gilbreath

Patricia L. Gilbreath (Pat), beloved mother, grandmother, sister, friend and public servant departed this world on October 3, 2017 and is rejoicing in heaven with her loved ones there. Pat was born November 20, 1941 in Fargo, North Dakota and was the oldest of four children. She moved to California as a teenager and graduated from Inglewood High School. She received her B.S. in Business Administration from Cal Poly Pomona in 1975, became a CPA in 1976, and earned a M.S. in Business Taxation from USC in 1980. She became the first female in the region to be accepted as partner in a major accounting firm in 1984.
To say that she was talented and accomplished would be an understatement. Her level of tireless dedication, responsibility and community service was unparalleled. Pat was elected to the Redlands City Council, serving for over two decades with two terms as mayor. She founded the Redlands Community Foundation in 2001 and chaired or served on numerous boards and committees, including San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG), Metrolink (SCRRA), Omnitrans, Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), Redlands Community Hospital Board of Directors, Redlands Sunrise Rotary Club, Redlands Symphony Association, Redlands Chamber of Commerce, First Congregational Church of Redlands, Redlands Area United Way, Citrograph Foundation, and National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC). She was a past governor’s appointee to Developmental Disabilities Area Board No. XII and also the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.
Her contributions to the city of Redlands have visibly and perpetually sustained and improved the standard of living in this community. She would have loved to have seen the completion of the railway connection to Redlands, which was a project she had championed for several years. The rest of us will reap the rewards of her determination and diligence for many years to come.
Pat was warm and kind, generous and gracious, extending herself to and welcoming all. Her faith in God was a guiding force in her life, shoring her up in adverse times and propelling her to a life of making a genuine difference. She was always watching out for and caring for others, finding ways to uplift someone in need – financially, physically or spiritually. She was highly principled, with high expectations of herself and those around her. Her family will always remember her valuable lessons, infinite love and abundant support. She will be sorely missed.
Pat was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel P. Colwell and Berdelle Smith (Colwell), her brother, Mike Colwell, and a son, Clark Pedersen. She is survived by: siblings Sherry Pope of Redlands, CA and Tommy and Sherry Colwell of Knoxville, TN; her children Jessie Stevenson of Scottsboro, AL, Eric Pedersen and Jeff Brown of San Diego, CA, and Samantha and Eddie King of Highland, CA; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She has several surviving extended family members and many friends who would be considered adopted family members.
Memorial Services will be as follows:
A viewing will be held at Emmerson-Bartlett Memorial Chapel in Redlands, CA on October 11th from 5-8pm. The memorial service will be held at her home church, First Congregational Church of Redlands, CA on October 12th at 11am. The family will hold a private graveside service and burial.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Pat’s name to one of the following:
- First Congregational Church of Redlands - 2 W. Olive Ave. Redlands, CA 92373
- Citrograph Foundation – www.citrographfoundation.org