Patricia Muehle, once married to actor Stuart Whitman
wazzzy
MUEHLE , Patricia
Patricia Muehle passed away at Kindred Hospital on April 25, 2007. Pat
was born in Los Angeles on St. Patrick's Day, 1931, which in her mind
entitled her to abandon her German and French heritage in favor of a
false claim of Irishness. Maybe she was right, for the luck of the
Irish was always with her. Pat graduated from Immaculate Heart High
School where she made many lifelong friends.
None who knew Pat could resist being impressed by her high-
spiritedness.
Pat had a fierce sense of justice and enjoyed lively discussions,
engaging in them with the passions of her beliefs. Even if you had the
best side of an argument, against Pat you were likely to come off
second best.
Pat loved giving parties and, because her guest list ensured animated
dinner table conversations, her guests nicknamed her the Perle Mesta
of Brentwood. She had a flawless sense of style and was impeccably
dressed on all occasions. Occasionally she displayed a coquettish
persona - which caused men to want to help her.
Pat loved parties and the lighter side of life. Still, she was not
frivolous. Although not a feminist, she did champion feminist causes
and took pride in women's accomplishments. She was especially
sensitive to the plight of unwed mothers, making Planned Parenthood
one of her top charities.
She also participated in the Las Floristas Headdress Ball, a
charitable event that raises money for handicapped children, and on
one occasion won 1st prize.
Pat loved travel with her husband, Maurice Muehle, a lawyer, whose
practice often took him to Europe and Asia. Switzerland was her
favorite country, especially the area around Zurich. She also enjoyed
literature. Kurt Vonnegut was her favorite author and from his "Cat's
Cradle", she appropriated "Ice Nine" as her automobile license plate.
Pat loved the outdoors, too - and prior to her illness, she played
tennis three times a week at Riviera Country Club.
Her husband, Maurice Muehle, four children by an earlier marriage to
actor Stuart Whitman, Tony Whitman of Santa Monica, Mike Whitman of
San Francisco, Linda Van Hook of Crescent City, and Scott Whitman of
Los Angeles, three stepchildren, Lisa Muehle of Laguna Beach, Eric
Muehle of Seattle and Dr. Casey Muehle of Illinois, sister Suzanne
King of Chicago, a younger brother, Donald LaLonde of Palos Verdes,
and an older brother, Arthur LaLonde of Los Angeles, survive Pat. Her
father, also named Arthur LaLonde, was a Frenchman from Quebec who
owned and operated Valley Fruit & Produce where Pat's brothers worked.
Ultimately, they took it over, expanding it into a very large and
successful company. Pat's mother, Aurelia Schauerte (from Illinois)
was of German ancestry.
In 2000, Pat began suffering from Cervical Dystonia, a progressive
disease. Thereafter complications and other ailments ensued, causing
her to become bedridden for the last five years of her life. But that
isn't how she will be remembered. Pat will be remembered as a
beautiful, vibrant, vivacious, emerald eyed, red haired lassie, the
life of the party, always sporting an engaging smile, smartly dressed
and ready for fun.
Services at Holy Cross Mortuary, Culver City, on Thursday, May 3, 2007
at 1:00 p.m.
Published in the Los Angeles Times on 5/1/2007.