Obituary of Col. John Francis Patterson

PATTERSON– Lt. Col. Retired John Francis, 79, died Feb. 22, 2013, in Richardson, Texas. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Sheila McDermott Patterson; their children, Elizabeth Patterson Finn, and husband, Timothy Finn; Jill Patterson McAuliffe, and husband, Paul McAuliffe; and John Keenan Patterson, and wife, Alice Meadows; nine grandchildren, Paul and John Finn, Sean, Katherine, Matthew and Keenan McAuliffe and Sarah, Jack and Claire Patterson; brother-in-law, Edward Leka- wa; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. In death, he will be joining his parents, Helen Keenan and John A. Patterson, and his sisters, Rosemary Patterson Liggins, and Regina Patterson Bowman. John was born in Nanty Glo June 8, 1933. He attended Penn State University and graduated from the University of Nebraska. He was a career officer in the U.S. Army and served as an aviator of both fixed wing and helicopters in Italy, North Africa, Vietnam, Germany and many stateside posts. He also was a member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. John received numerous awards and medals for service before retiring Aug. 31, 1973. After his military career, John worked as an executive at the Hartford Group for 18 years before starting his own company, Omega Benefits Services. Upon retirement in 1998, his happiest times were spent with family. John was a great source of strength, pride and joy for his family and all who knew him. He was an exceptional man, a steadfast friend and a loving and deeply loved husband, father, brother and grandfather. A funeral mass was celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27 at St. Mark Catholic Church, Plano, Texas. There will be a military interment at Arlington National Cemetery at 1 p.m. April 10. Gifts in the memory of John F. Patterson may be sent to The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Agnes, 320 County Road K, Fond du Lac, Wis. 54937, who taught at St. Mary’s Parochial School, Nanty Glo.