Dr. David W. "Pat" Patton

Dr. Patton is survived by his wife of 49 years, Dr. Rita Patton; son David Patton (Laken) of Huntsville; daughter Heather Patton of Birmingham; mother Darlene Patton of Oneonta; brothers Mike Patton (Gayle) of Sumter, Illinois, Steve Patton (Debbie) of Shelby, North Carolina, and Jim Patton of Birmingham; mother-in-law Faye Williams of Somerville; brothers-in-law Glenn Williams (Teena) and Donnie Williams (Garnet), both of Somerville; sister-in-law Denise Jackson of Hoover; and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Ira Patton and father-in-law, Buddy Williams.

David (Pat) Patton was born on July 26, 1949, in Birmingham, the second of four boys born to Ira and Darlene Patton. He grew up in Oneonta and had an active childhood playing multiple sports, including football, basketball, and baseball, but he also enjoyed exercising his mind. As an adult, he often joked about being the only of the four brothers who didn’t go to college on an athletic scholarship. He graduated from Oneonta High School in 1967.

Pat entered Auburn University in the Fall of 1967. During his time on campus, he was a member of Sigma Pi fraternity. Pat was a natural salesman and worked his way through college selling golf clubs. He was a chemistry major, and this led him to meet his future wife, Rita, in a chemistry lab in 1971. Pat completed his degree at Auburn later than year, but his love of the Auburn Tigers and Rita remained throughout his life.

After Auburn, Pat and Rita got married in 1972, and Pat began medical school later that year at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Medicine allowed him to do what he was best at – care for people. Pat finished medical school in 1976 and went on to complete a residency at Carraway Methodist in Birmingham. It was during this time that he also became a father, perhaps his favorite title, to David and Heather.

Pat and his young family moved to Houston in the early 1980s, as he would complete a fellowship and serve as a staff physician at M.D. Anderson. Houston is also where Pat met his lifelong best friend, Gus DuBois. While he was quite proud of these accomplishments in Houston, family was more important, and he led his back to Birmingham, where he and Gus established a pulmonology practice. He served as a pulmonologist at South Highlands. In time, South Highlands became HealthSouth, and Pat worked his way to the Chief of Medicine position with the support of his longtime nurse Carol Frazer. This was his proudest professional achievement, and he remained in the role until he retired from pulmonology in 2002. Pat was also one of the founders of the American Pulmonary Medicine Institute.

Pat was a lifelong learner and numismatic enthusiast. After his retirement from medicine, he spent more time focusing on this hobby. He enjoyed the history and stories associated with the hobby and sharing that with people, but he enjoyed the friendships and comradery he developed with others and the time spent traveling with his family to shows even more. They put many miles on his SUV, which he lovingly referred to as “The Biscuit-eater.”

He was a member of Canterbury United Methodist Church and a Bible scholar. Pat stayed engaged in the community as a Mason and a Shriner. He also enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, and exploring God’s creation.

Pat loved spending time with family, patients, and friends old and new. It brought out the best in him, and he the best in them. He was quick-witted and always loved a good joke. No matter the need, he never stopped caring for people, and he always lent a helping hand. This was his life’s work, and it is the legacy that he leaves behind in those he loved.

The family wishes to thank all of those who supported and cared for Pat over the years, including Tommy and Glenda Brown, his cousin Kris Conrad, and Nadine Cockrum, among others.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 3, 2021 from 5:00-7:00 pm at Ridout’s Valley Chapel, 1800 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, AL 35209. The funeral will be Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 11:00 am at Ridout’s Valley Chapel in Homewood, with the Dr. Frank Sutton officiating. A graveside service and burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery, 720 1st Avenue East, Oneonta, AL 35121. Pallbearers will be James Patton, Jake Patton, Josh Etress, Ryan Williams, AJ Williams, Alan Williams, Tad Roose, John Miller, Cameron Jackson, and Mark Jackson

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children or the Alabama Sheriffs Youth Ranches.