Joseph Van Patton

Business owner Joe Van Patton created a fun place to work which reflected the fun he had in his personal life. The owner of Pattco Printer Systems in Marietta, he filled his free time with world travel, maintaining his original 1981 Datsun 280ZX, and playing golf. Joseph S. Van Patton, 84, of Smyrna, died peacefully at home on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, of complications from Parkinson’s Disease and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. The interment service is at 11 a.m. Thursday at Arlington Memorial Park. The Neptune Society was in charge of arrangements. Visitation and lunch follows at Seasons 52 restaurant at 90 Perimeter Center West in Dunwoody. Mr. Van Patton spent his entire career in computer printer distribution and maintenance. His employees were devoted to him, and he gave them great latitude to do their jobs. Respected by his customers and colleagues, he was admired for his honesty and integrity. With his wife, Pamela Harris Van Patton, he founded Pattco in 1980. In time, he gave his wife full ownership of Pattco and remained as manager until it was sold two years ago. His garage not only housed the show-quality 1981 Z car he owned for 30 years, it is testimony to Mr. Van Patton’s extensive travels. One wall is lined with rows of pegs displaying more than 70 baseball caps he bought in every state and country he toured. Interspersed are caps commemorating his alma mater, the University of South Carolina Gamecocks; the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club and courses he played; and Pattco and other companies. The unique display lets everyone easily identify his house. Mr. Van Patton and his wife honeymooned in London and Paris; toured Hong Kong and China; went zip-lining and cave tubing in Belize; enjoyed cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, and the Caribbean; celebrated his 70th birthday in Canada and at Niagara Falls; and with seven family members toured Germany, Austria, and France. Opening night of Don Giovanni at the Metropolitan Opera House, he was in the audience. Opting for a scenic highway whenever possible, Mr. Van Patton and his wife drove the Pacific Coast Highway from Los Angeles to San Francisco and Route 66 to its end at the Santa Monica Pier sightseeing all along the way. He regularly vacationed in Key West, Palm Springs, and Las Vegas. When not traveling and managing his company, he played golf almost daily with his son, the late Joseph Stanley Van Patton Jr. of Acworth. While vacationing in Belize, Mr. Van Patton was introduced to his distant cousin Dan Van Patten, original drummer of the Southern California new wave band Berlin. When the drummer learned that Mr. Van Patton was vacationing in Belize, he asked to meet him. The musician filled Mr. Van Patton in on their common roots through a Petten, North Holland, baron who emigrated from The Netherlands to New York City in 1664. The van Petten name evolved into Van Patten and Van Patton. Upon returning home, Mr. Van Patton sent Mr. Van Patten genealogical information to re-connect him to the South Carolina branch of the family. Mr. Van Patton was born in Spartanburg, SC, to the late Adam Stanley and Wilma Josephine Harrison Van Patton. He earned a business administration degree from USC and was a Korean War era United States Air Force veteran. Of his wife, Mr. Van Patton liked to tell people that 43 years ago they became business associates, then friends, then business partners, then life partners. He said all of America celebrates their wedding day because they married on the 4th of July 18 years ago. Survivors other than his wife include two daughters, Vickie Grider, married to Kenneth Grider, of Woodstock, and Candi Davis, married to Steve Davis, of Easley, SC; a step-daughter, Dr. Angela Feazel Mattke, married to Mark Mattke, of Mableton; a sister, Carolyn Van Patton Edwards, married to retired Army Col. Daniel H. Edwards, of San Antonio, TX; and six grandchildren, Nicholas Grider, Christian Davis, Andrew Davis, Hunter Davis, Wolf Mattke and Morgan Mattke. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to your favorite charity in memory of Joseph S. Van Patton.