During their senior year, Pati and Barry continued their friendship. She was a cheerleader and Barry was the class president. They never officially dated, and after graduation, Pati was off to college and Barry had enlisted in the Air Force.
Stationed in Chandler, Arizona, Barry often returned home to see Pati. Some of Pati’s family lived in Arizona so distance was never an issue. Pati and Barry’s relationship continued to blossom.
For Pati, it was love.
For Barry, he didn’t want to be with any other person.
Barry asked for Pati’s hand in marriage before heading for Crete in 1963 for an 18-month tour with Armed Forces Radio and Television. She accepted. After his tour, Barry was honorably discharged from the Air Force in August of 1964. He joined the family business and he and Pati married in February of 1965.
They spent the early years of the marriage working and fixing up their first home. Pati worked at Farmers Insurance while Barry continued learning and building the family business. In 1967, Pati and Barry welcomed their first child, Cherilyn.
Just a few months after the birth of Cherilyn, the new parents were told their daughter had been diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, an inherited disease affecting the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the U.S. This diagnosis changed the Gump family’s lives forever.
A year and a half later, Pati and Barry welcomed their second daughter, Nancy into the world. While they celebrated a new baby girl, a year and a half later, Pati and Barry were grieving over the loss of their firstborn, as Cherilyn lost her battle with Cystic Fibrosis.
An energetic young Nancy, the growth of the family business and becoming volunteers for Cystic Fibrosis organizations all played a key role in helping deal with the loss of Cherilyn. While nothing could bring their beloved daughter back, they dedicated their lives to helping raise funds to control or find a cure for others suffering with CF. At the time of Cherilyn’s diagnosis, only one in five diagnosed with CF reached the age of five. Today, the median age is 37. There is no doubt, the dollars Barry and Pati have helped raise has made a difference in the lives of others.
Some 48 years later, Pati and Barry continue to share their love for one another as well as their determination to raise funds to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. They are active in the Portable Sanitation Association International and also serve on the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Board of Trustees. As time passes, their love for one another strengthens.
College of the Canyons Foundation has recently named Barry and Pati Gump as the recipients of the college’s Silver Spur Community Service Award for 2013 for their contribution to building a stronger community and making a difference in the lives of those in need. Not only have the Gumps successfully run the Andy Gump Inc. business, they also continue to support a wide range of non-profit organizations, and will be honored on Saturday, March 2, at the Globe Theater. “Barry and Pati embody the spirit of service that is unique to our community. They work quietly behind the scenes to support entities throughout Santa Clarita, and make a profound difference in the many lives they touch,” states College of the Canyons Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook. “Their dedicated service stems from their genuine interest in the welfare of others, and a heartfelt generosity that is rarely seen today.”
 
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