Sylvia Drinkwine Patterson

The Celebration of Her Life will be held Friday, September 2 at 2:00 pm at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1741 Sayles Blvd Abilene, TX 79605. Entombment will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be Thursday, September 1 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 U S Hwy 277 Abilene, TX 79606.

Sylvia was born to Napoleon and Doris Drinkwine in Warren, Vermont.

She attended the Mary Fletcher School of Nursing and later enlisted in the USAF Nursing Corp where she met her husband, Fred Patterson, Sr. Together they raised four children: Fred Jr., Lynn, Sandra, and Toni. Sylvia was a 58-year breast cancer survivor. She loved the Lord and led a lifetime of service to her family and community. Sylvia dedicated her life to her children and grandchildren. There was not a task that she would not attempt for them. She displayed a life of selflessness that we all aspire to. Sylvia was the epitome of unconditional love. She volunteered with Meals on Wheels for over 10 years. She was a registered nurse for Abilene State School for 11 years. Sylvia was very involved in her church, Aldersgate United Methodist. She and her husband went on mission trips with the youth. Sylvia even took several of her grandchildren with her to Costa Rica and Guatemala for Medical Missions and went on her final mission trip at the age of 82.

Sylvia is preceded in death by her husband, Fred Patterson, Sr.

Sylvia is survived by her children Fred Patterson, Jr. and wife Barbie of Bryan, TX; Lynn Smith and husband Tom of High Point, NC; Sandra Lerick and husband Fred of San Antonio, TX; Toni Arnold and husband Larry of Rowlett, TX; 18 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Aldersgate Mission Taskforce/Central American Team, Meals on Wheels in Abilene or Breast Cancer Research/Living Beyond Breast Cancer

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.elliott-hamil.com for the Patterson family.

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