Eleanor Patton

Eleanor Miller Patton, 104, died February 28, 2022 at the Healthcare Resort of Olathe in Olathe, KS. Eleanor was born October 25, 1917, in Utica, NY, to Horace and Emilie (Perry) Miller. During her primary and middle school years she attended the Utica Country Day School and graduated from High School at the Utica Free Academy in Utica, NY. After a year of Theatre training in New York City, NY, she continued her education at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, graduating in 1940 with an undergraduate degree in Speech Pathology. Twenty-five years later she would earn a Master's Degree in Speech Pathology from Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ.

She was preceded in death by her father, Dr. Horace Murray Miller (d. 1978); her mother, Emilie Perry Miller (d. 1983); her brother, Dr. Donald Miller (d. 2000); her husband of 62-years, Dale Patton (d. 2003) and her eldest son, David Patton (d. 2017). She is survived by her sister, Susan Cowles (Harold) of Colorado Springs, CO; Barbara Patton (widow of David Patton) of Sun Lakes, AZ; son Roger Patton (Martha) of Sun Lakes, AZ; son Donald Patton (Cecilia) of Bemidji, MN; son Thomas Patton (Kristine) of Olathe, KS; eight grandchildren: Jodi Slotar (Bruce), Dale Patton (Amy), Steven Patton (Jerri), Sarah Swenson (Nate), Leslie Lytle (Jarod), Ann Patton, Kelly Anderson (Charles) & Ashley Guevarra (Kevin), 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.

Eleanor and Dale were married on August 3, 1940 in Evanston, IL, resided in Upstate New York and raised four sons. Dale worked in higher-education his entire career and Eleanor began her career in 1958 (the year the family moved from Oneonta, NY to Mesa, AZ) when she started the Speech Therapy Department at the Mesa Public Schools. The family moved to St. Cloud, MN in 1963 where Eleanor continued working in the public schools as a Speech Therapist before becoming an Instructor & Clinician in Speech & Hearing at St. Cloud State University in 1965. In 1978 retirement led them to Sun Lakes, AZ. She relocated to Olathe, KS in 2018.

Eleanor was a marvelous seamstress, enjoyed music & theatre, and loved to play golf and bridge. She was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta women's fraternity since 1938, and very active with P.E.O., a philanthropic women's organization. An endearing and bright woman; she was a loyal wife, dedicated mother and friend to all.

Arrangements are with Penwell-Gable Funeral Home (Cremation) with Interment at the Valley of the Sun Mortuary in Chandler, AZ. Memorial Services are pending for Olathe, KS and Sun Lakes, AZ. In lieu of flowers, please direct any donations to the P.E.O. Scholarship Fund.