Obituary of Patricia H. Sterling

Patricia H. Sterling, 94, died March 20, 2021 at Seneca View Nursing Facility in Montour Falls, New York. She lived in Hornell, NY from 2001 to 2015. She was born Patricia Ward Henderson on August 7, 1926 in Alexandria, Egypt, the daughter of Fayette Douglas and Allie Geno (Sterling) Henderson, and grew up in Egypt and Wooster, Ohio. She received her bachelor's degree from the College of Wooster in 1948 and her master's degree from the State University of New York at New Paltz in 1971. She married Roger Truelsen, moved to New York state, and worked as an editor for The Reader's Digest. She later moved to Georgia, where she taught high school English, then to North Carolina, where she was senior editor for The Mother Earth News magazine. In the 1980s and 90s she became a bit of a nomad, packing her belongings and her Great Dane, Magnum, into her minivan, and going "wherever the tourists weren't," editing books for various university presses and living in more than 30 places in 14 states. Everywhere she went, she was accompanied by her beloved cats and dogs. Survivors include her daughter, Michal Truelsen of Lowell, Mass.; three sons, Kristian Truelsen of Toronto, Canada; Jeff Truelsen of Ithaca, NY; and Doug Truelsen of Maitland, Fla.; and two grandsons, Alex and Erik. At her request, there will be no service or calling hours. Memorial contributions may be made to either the College of Wooster, at The Gault Alumni Center, 1012 Beall Ave., Wooster, OH 44691; or to the animal shelter of your choice.