An obituary has sadly confirmed that Pat Lyda, a prominent women’s professional wrestler during the late 1950s and early 1960s, passed away on November 3, 2025, at age 85. The devoted mother, who during her career worked for Jim Crockett Promotions and Capitol Wrestling, appeared on shows featuring stars such as Edouard Carpentier, Bobo Brazil, and Jackie Fargo. Lyda is survived by her daughter, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Lyda, real name Patsy Ann Gilliland, was trained by The Fabulous Moolah and, over the course of her career, wrestled more than 280 matches, including at least 30 against her trainer. During this time, she captivated audiences as women’s wrestling gained traction but remained undervalued. While historically significant to the business, those who knew her personally praised her as a devoted mother, artist, and writer, whose time in pro wrestling was possibly even unknown to them.
