Robert A. Patterson

Robert A. Patterson, of Houston, Texas, passed away on Friday, October 11, 2013. He was born to Walter Blake Patterson and Sarah McAllister Patterson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 25, 1922.

He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1943 with a B.S. in chemical engineering. He later graduated from NYU with a Masters degree, also in chemical engineering.

During World War II, he served as a lieutenant (junior grade) in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater.

He had a long career as an engineer with Texaco in both New York City and in Houston. Bob would agree that one of the high points of his career with Texaco was the opportunity he and his wife, Jean, had to work and live for two years in Milan, Italy, and Frankfurt, Germany.

In retirement, Bob and Jean enjoyed traveling. They returned to Italy and Germany several times, and they also traveled to other points in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Northern Africa, and several other sites in North and South America.

He is survived by his wife, Jean Wedeman Patterson. Bob and Jean married on December 21, 1946, in Forest City, Pennsylvania.

He is also survived by a son, Robert C. Patterson, and two daughters, Ellen Patterson Henderson, and Janet Patterson George. Another son, James D. Patterson, passed away in 1987.

He has five grandsons: Joshua, Owen, and Taylor Patterson; Edward Henderson; and Ryan George.

One brother, Charles Willard Patterson of Pennsylvania, also survives him. Another brother, Walter Patterson, formerly of Pennsylvania, passed away several years ago.

A memorial service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, October 14, 2013, at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home