Lieutenant Colonel John Francis Patterson's Obituary
PATTERSON, LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN FRANCIS Ret., 79, died on February 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 Lekawa, 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, Pennsylvania on June 8, 1933. He attended Penn State University and graduated from the University of Nebraska. He was a career officer in the United States Army and served as an aviator of both fixed wing and helicopters in Italy, North Africa, Vietnam, Germany and many stateside posts. He was also a member of the US Army Corp of Engineers. John received numerous awards and medals for service before retiring in August 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 wake will be held on Tuesday between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM at Restland Funeral Home in Dallas. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Wednesday at St. Mark Catholic Church in Plano. There will be a military interment at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
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