William Patterson

William R. (Pat) Patterson, LTC, USAF, RET.

Pat passed away in Kansas City, Missouri on December 22, 2014, after a brief illness. Pat was born on December 3, 1919 in Malvern, Arkansas, and was 95 years old when he died. It can truly be said that he enjoyed every one of those years. Pat always claimed he was the luckiest man he knew. Those who knew him would agree that any man who had survived WWII, Korea and Vietnam while doing all of the things he loved for over 30 years as a military pilot would concur that luck was truly on his side.

His family relocated to Hot Springs, Arkansas early in his life and he always called Hot Springs home. Pat married his high school sweetheart, Helen G. Gabriel in 1941 and they remained married until her death in 2008.

Pat is survived by their three children, Mike Patterson (Great Falls, MT), Steve Patterson (Sumter, SC) and Missy Patterson (Overland Park, KS) and their six grandchildren; Bill Patterson (Troutdale, OR), Leslie Stillian (Garden City, KS), Brian Patterson (Sandy, OR), Stephanie Champion (Sumter, SC), Michelle Black (Brooklyn, NY) and Rebecca Black (Lawrence, KS) and twelve great grand-children.

After retiring from military service, Pat returned to Hot Springs with Helen and for the next 20 years ran several successful business ventures. Pat also became prominent in the American Legion, 40 & 8, Elks, The Air Force Association and the USAF Escape and Evasion Society.

Memorials on Pat's behalf can be sent to The Caring Place, 101 Quapaw Ave., Hot Springs, AR 71901.