Patricia Koch Margolis

Patricia Koch Margolis, 77, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, passed away peacefully at home on June 20, 2026.

Born December 4, 1948, she was the daughter of the late William Julian Koch and Dorothy Albertine Clarke. Patricia earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1972. She married Robert Jay Margolis on May 27, 1972.

She found pure joy working in her yard—planting flowers, growing vegetables—and loved camping trips and opening her home for any celebration with the people she cared about.

Patricia is survived by her daughter Michelle Burnley and husband Mark of Durham, NC, and their children Jacob and Amanda; son David Margolis and wife Aimee of Chapel Hill, NC, and their children Lilah, Quincy, and Cassidy; son James Margolis and wife Nicole Caillier of Scottsdale, AZ, and their child Jessie; sisters Jean Mauk of Providence, RI and Deb Plylar of Durham, NC; and brother David Koch of Folsom, CA. She was preceded in death by her parents.

A celebration of Patricia’s life will be held Thursday, July 3, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 814 Old Mill Road, Chapel Hill. Burial arrangements are pending.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff at Brookdale for their kind and compassionate care that kept her comfortable in her final days.