Jayantilal Ambalal Patel

Jayantilal Ambalal Patel, 88, of Salem, VA, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, September 13, 2022. Born in Anand, Gujarat, India on Monday, June 4, 1934, to the late Ambalal Motibai and Surajben Ambalal Patel, he is also preceded in death by his grandfather, Motibhai Khodabhai Patel, and his wife, Jayaben Jayantilal Patel.

Mr. Patel spent nearly 20 years in Uganda, Africa and greatly enjoyed sharing stories of his memories and experiences of the life he lived there. He was a bit of a foodie and enjoyed sharing meals with friends and family – he never lost his appetite, even in his final days. In his professional career, he was an accomplished retail businessman in both Africa and India and also served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Mercantile Bank in India. Above all, family was his highest priority and keeping his family connected and living life together was his greatest joy. He was the strictest elder in the family yet was a loving and well-respected patriarch – he was loved by all and will be greatly missed.

Those left to cherish his memory are his son and daughter-in-law, Jayeshkumar Jayantilal and Rajeshreeben Jayantilal Patel; grandsons, Dipen Patel and Krunal Patel; granddaughters-in-law, Ruhi Patel and Ayushi Patel; as well as his great-grandson, Niam Patel.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 15, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.johnmoakey.com