Howell Runnels "H.R." Patterson Jr.'s Obituary
Howell Runnels “H.R.” Patterson, Jr., age 81, of Boerne, passed away on March 15, 2015, surrounded by his family who loved him so very much. He was born in Dallas, Texas, on May 14, 1934, to Agnes Martha Polasek and Howell Runnels Patterson, Sr. He is survived by his adoring wife of 52 years, Deborah; daughter, Erin Patterson Barton and her husband Jeff; son, Kyle Andrew Patterson and his wife Katie; and grandchildren, Morgan, Ben and grandson-on-his-way, Baby P. H.R. graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas and Texas A&M University in College Station. After graduating from A&M, he was a pilot in the U.S. Air Force for two years. Thereafter, H.R. joined Farwell Corporation in Dallas, a mechanical and sheet metal contractor company, where he also earned professional licenses as a Professional Engineer and Master Plumber. Upon leaving Farwell, he joined Southern Methodist University (SMU) in 1977 and became the Associate VP of Campus Planning & Development. After serving under five campus presidents and 21 years of overseeing construction, remodeling and massive growth, the SMU campus changed quite a bit. His SMU colleagues considered H.R. their favorite Aggie, and he was devoted to any and everything SMU. He cared deeply for those he worked with at SMU and the relationships they formed. H.R. served in many professional organizations including, Mechanical Contractors Association (President, 1975), ASHRAE, Association of Physical Plant Administrators, Management Labor Negotiating Committee of the North Texas Contractors Association, Park Cities Rotary Club (President, 1989), and, he worked closely with the City of University Park in its relationship with SMU. H.R. lived in Dallas for 73 years before moving to San Angelo for five years and then Boerne, always following his grandchildren. Wherever and whatever his family was involved in, our beloved “Fuzzy” was always there rooting from the sidelines with his booming voice giving lots of encouragement. He was happiest being with his wife, children and grandchildren. H.R. was a member of the San Angelo Rotary and Emmanuel Episcopal Church of San Angelo where he served on the Vestry as Junior Warden, happily using his abilities in both large and small activities. When Deborah and he moved to Boerne, they joined St. Helena’s Episcopal Church. A funeral service will be held in the Wildwood Chapel at Restland Cemetery in Dallas, Texas, on Friday, March 20, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Helena’s Episcopal Church, 410 N. Main St., Boerne, TX 78006. To leave condolences for the family, please visit www.ebensberger-fisher.com and select the Obituaries tab. Arrangements with Ebensberger-Fisher Funeral Home of Boerne. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75238 at Restland Road.
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