Patrick James (Jay) Aldrich

Patrick James (Jay) Aldrich of Gainesville Georgia went to be with his Lord on Saturday December 3. He was married to his wife Virginia (Ginger) Rogers Aldrich, the love of his life for 51 years.

His parents, Charles DeLloyd Aldrich, and Margaret Mary Reading Aldrich both of Wisconsin and Rockport Texas preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife and son David Christopher Aldrich, two grandchildren Lantz Patrick and McKenna Kathleen Aldrich of Jasper GA. Brother Terrance Aldrich, sister-in-law Maureen Aldrich of Sarasota FLA, brother US Air Force Lt Col retired, Robert Michael Aldrich, sister-in-law Laverne Aldrich of Vacaville CA. and 1 nephew and 4 nieces.

Jay was born in Stoughton WI but lived most of his early years through college in Beloit WI. He graduated from Beloit Catholic High School in 1964 and graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design with a BA degree in Industrial Design. Following graduation and during the Vietnam conflict from 1968 - 1970 he served in the US ARMY engineer service as a cartography draftsman, assigned to Ft Clayton Canal Zone. He left the service with the rank of SP5.

After military service he came to his parents' home in Rockport TX later moving to Houston for work where he met his wife, Ginger. They married September 18, 1971, at St Thomas Catholic Church in Houston Texas. The couple settled in Atlanta GA where Jay served as the director of admissions for the Atlanta College of Art, a part of the High Museum. He later worked for many years for Atlantic Building Systems, a metal building division of Atlantic Steel, designing detail plans and later becoming a field engineer for their direct build department supervising construction for many large industrial metal buildings, such as Pace warehouses, Corning Glass, PPG, and others. He was a partner in 2 construction firms, Parker-Aldrich Construction, and Tri-Power Construction in Marietta, specializing in mid-sized commercial and professional buildings in the Atlanta and N GA areas before retiring. He was most recently employed as a security officer for Allied Universal Security and Tri-County Security in Gainesville.

Jay was a member of the Port Royale Marina Community, the Siberian Husky Club of Greater Atlanta, and a founding member and former officer of the Metropolitan Atlanta Samoyed Club.

Ginger and Jay bred and exhibited AKC champion Samoyeds and Siberians for 47 years under the kennel

names of Snofire Samoyeds and Snofyre Siberian Huskies and was active in the Atlanta Kennel Club and other dog sports in the Atlanta area. He was also a member of the Atlanta Wooden Boat Club and the Lakewood Baptist Church of Gainesville.

Jay loved his family, country music, his dogs, wooden boats, and his favorite places Lake Lanier and Key West. He had a kind and loving spirit with a smile and a prayer for all his friends. He enjoyed talking with new people and often shared his faith with those in need. He is greatly missed.

We know he is safe in the arms of GOD and is with the family gone before and his dogs waiting at the Rainbow Bridge. Godspeed

A memorial service is pending.

Memorials in his name may be sent to:

The Atlanta Kennel Club Foundation

or AKC's Take the Lead.