Longtime Claremont resident Patrick J. “Pat” Pearring died of leukemia at City of Hope on May 12, 2012. He was 82.  Family expressed that he will be remembered as a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend.

“Pat was a man of great character, spirituality, dignity and integrity. He was a true gentleman,” family shared.

Mr. Pearring spent his entire career in the grocery industry, beginning at age 13 when he worked for Loyola Market in Los Angeles. He went on to work for Ralphs Grocery Company and Shopping Bag.  Along with his family, Mr. Pearring also owned and operated Claremont Quality Foods on Yale Avenue, having purchased the business from the Bentley family of grocers. After operating it for slightly more than 2 years, the Pearring family sold the store, which ultimately became Rhino Records.

The majority of Mr. Pearring’s career was spent at Vons, from where he retired in 1985 as vice president of operations. Contributing to his success in the grocery industry was his degree from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business Food Industry Management Program and his membership in the California Grocers Association.

After retiring from Vons, Mr. Pearring opened Silver Lakes Market in 1986 with his family. Still family-owned and operated, the market continues to serve the community of Silver Lakes in Helendale.

Mr. Pearring was an active member of Our Lady of the Assumption (OLA) Church in Claremont. Over the years, he served on the OLA school board, taught CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) and was a member of the parish council, financial committee and hospitality ministry. He also served as a Eucharistic minister, helped with OLA’s annual “Fiesta” for many years and belonged to the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic men’s fraternal benefit society.

Mr. Pearring is survived by his wife of 61 years, Joann Pearring; his brother and sister-in-law, Jerome and Joanne Pearring; his sister-in-law and her husband, Nadine and Jim Ennis; his 6 children and their spouses, Pat and Lori Pearring, Denise and Jesse Malone, Cathy Pearring Rockwell, Larry and Cathy Pearring, Ann Pearring Eshelman and Greg and Emily Pearring; his grandchildren, Patrick Pearring, Brian Pearring, Evan Pearring and his wife Stephanie, Jessica McGaw and her husband Matt, Michelle Smith and her husband Chris, Bethany Beck and her husband Jason, David Pearring, Caydee Eshelman and Emily Eshelman; his great-grandchildren, Alyssa Pearring and Nathan, Bailey and Jenna McGraw; and by many nieces, nephews and godchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, Ralph and Anna Pearring; and his brothers, Ralph Pearring, Jr. and Jack Pearring.

A Rosary will be held at 7 p.m. today, Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Claremont. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, May 24, 2012, also at OLA.

The family wishes to thank all of the loving, caring and efficient staff at City of Hope for their exceptional care of Mr. Pearring.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA 91010, or www.cityofhope.org.