Pat Wood Obituary
Beloved mother, grandmother, wife, and dedicated educator, Pat Dustin, passed away peacefully at her home at Oaknoll Retirement Residence on October 20th, at the age of 89.
Born on August 17, 1936, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Robert and Florence Mills, Pat graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines in 1954. Her passion for helping others led her to pursue a career in education. She attended Grinnell College, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Home Economics from the University of Iowa in 1974, and subsequently completed a master's degree in Counselor Education at the University of Iowa in 1985.
Pat was united in marriage to Richard "Dick" Dustin in 1957, with whom she shared a loving, lifelong partnership until his passing in 2018. In 2020, she found new companionship and joy with Hansel "Hank" Wood.
A devoted mother, Pat is survived by her two children: Susan Dustin of Iowa City and Robert (Julie) Dustin of Franklin, Tennessee. She was a proud and loving grandmother to Grace, Matthew, Mabel, and Khanh.
Pat's passion was the 25 years she spent as an educator, first as a Home Economics Teacher at Southeast Junior High and later as a guidance counselor at Iowa City High School, where she touched the lives of countless students. Her unwavering support and encouragement of students made a lasting impact on the Iowa City community, and her dedication to the well-being of young people was evident in everything she did.
Pat will be remembered for her kind heart, her warm smile, and her deep commitment to both family and education.
The family would like to thank the Oaknoll Health Center "Loft" Staff for the wonderful care provided to Pat over the past several years, and the additional loving care provided by Iowa City Hospice in Pat's final months.
A celebration of life will be held on Friday afternoon, December 19th at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, with further details forthcoming. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Iowa City Free Lunch Program, Iowa City Hospice, or the Oaknoll Foundation.
Obituary published on Legacy.com by Chicago Sun-Times on Oct. 24, 2025.