Donald H. “Pat” Patterson Sr., age 90, formerly of Edison, died Monday evening, September 26, 2011, at the Woodside Village Care Center following nearly a ten year battle with Alzheimer’s.
On October 16, 1920, Donald was born in Alexandria, Ohio, the only son of five children of the late Wilbur and Hazel (Penn) Patterson.
As a family, they moved often due to his father’s job on the railroad, which brought him to Morrow County at an early age. He graduated from Edison High School in the Class of 1939.
Shortly following his graduation and while he was working at the pottery shop behind Weaver’s IGA, Donald was drafted into the U.S. Army to serve in World War II. He was given the unique assignment of being stationed with a unit in the middle of nowhere in Alaska, to work on train tracks and keep them open and running. He truly loved every minute of his time in Alaska.
While home on a leave from the Army, Donald met a young lady, Betsy Fout, who worked with his sister, Martha. When he returned to the war, they wrote to each other and their relationship grew. Then, upon his honorable discharge from the Army he returned home to be with her, and shortly thereafter, Donald and Betsy were married on January 18, 1947, at the home of their friend, Dale Wood, in Mount Gilead. Together they would share over sixty two years of marriage and raise three children. She preceded him in death on February 5, 2009.
Upon his return to Edison, Donald found work at the U.S. Army Depot in Marion, serving as a firefighter for them for over 25 years. During the 50’s and 60’s, he also served on the Edison Fire Department and was their fire chief for several years. He was instrumental in helping them build new fire trucks for their department.
Always hard at work, Donald even made time to own and operate the Edison Machine Shop for over 30 years, which he bought from the Gledhill’s. Everyone who needed something fixed knew they could count on “Pat”, and he would do whatever it took to help them. He was especially known by every farmer in the area, keeping their machines up and running, and they would barter for his services. He would give to others in other ways too, such as when he built the bleachers for the baseball field in Edison.
A man of faith, Donald was a member of the Edison United Methodist Church.
With a love for traveling the countryside, Donald and Betsy would pack the camper he had made and their family would hit the open road for weeks at a time. He was proud to show his children every state except Alaska and Hawaii because he couldn’t get the camper to make it that far. He and Betsy also enjoyed wintering in Florida for several years.
A true outdoorsman, Donald loved to trap, hunt and fish on the grounds of the farmers he served through his machine shop. He was “always on the move” and especially enjoyed a good long walk.
Donald also had a passion for gardening and would try his hand at growing most anything. He grew a huge garden every year and it consisted of everything from grapes and strawberries to horseradish and zucchini.
Known as a quiet man who kept to himself, “Pat” nevertheless did enjoy going to the V.F.W. Post 8054, to visit with his friends and “shoot the breeze”.
He will be missed by his three children: Donald H. (Connie) Patterson, Jr. of Marysville, Ronald “George” (Joan) Patterson of Ashley, and Candy (Mark) Messmer of Upper Sandusky; 4 grandchildren: Rachel (Larry) Stover, Kristina (Bill) Martin, Rebecca Patterson, and Karen (Eric) Lee; 3 great grandchildren Kendal Stover, Alex VanDyke, and Aaron Martin; three sisters: Virginia Brown of McConnellsville, Martha Hildebrand and Jayne (Norman) Worline, both of Mount Gilead; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Including his wife and parents, Donald was preceded in death by a sister and three brothers-in-law: Iris and Walter “Mac” MacGregor, Derald Brown, and Warren Hildebrand.
The Patterson family will greet friends from 10 a.m. – Noon on Wednesday, October 5, 2011, at the Snyder Funeral Home, Craven Chapel, 67 N. Main St., Mount Gilead. Services honoring Pat’s life will follow immediately at Noon, with Celebrant Don Lockwood officiating. Burial with military honors provided by V.F.W. Post 8054 and AmVets Post 87 will follow in Bryn Zion Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Edison United Methodist Church or to the Woodside Village Care Center Activity Fund, and they may be sent to the care of the funeral home.
Snyder Funeral Homes of Mount Gilead is honored to have been chosen to serve Donald’s family, and online condolences may be expressed to them by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
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