Charles T. Patterson

September 7, 1921 - June 3, 2016

Over 94 years ago, a little boy was born to Ila (Turman) and Leonard Patterson in Nettleton, Mississippi on September 7, 1921. He had a big brother, Muriel Patterson, who was two at the time who predeceased him. From an early age he was clever in finding ways to earn a little spending money…selling crabapples from door to door; throwing papers on a neighborhood route and working as a grocery clerk. He was tall for his age so he even got away with driving the delivery truck at age 12. He made his way to the federal government working as an assistant engineering aide and moved into the contracting and procurement work of government that he enjoyed so much. In 1980 when he retired, he was serving as a Senior Service Executive in the Virginia area. He was drafted into the Navy in 1944 and spent his entire tour in the Jacksonville Florida area because of what he knew so well….purchasing for the federal government. His brother was off fighting the war and Pat remained stateside buying much needed supplies for that war. He met and played tennis with a guy named Clay Tousey and when he moved to Jacksonville in 1984 and joined the Palms Presbyterian Church, he met another Tousey, Chip, and learned he was Clay’s son.

During his first year in the Navy he married Virginia Morrow. They had two girls…Cheri (Doug) Roper (Colorado) and Mary (Earl) Marbut (Georgia) which he referred to as “two daughters who grew up, got their education, adjusted to the divorce of their parents, chose their husbands well and became good citizens, great parents and sweet Christians. His girls gave him three “grands”…Michelle (Eric) Clark (Tex); Denise Corbin (Tex) and Whit (Erin) Marbut (Tenn) and four great grands; Zach, Laney, Hallie and Sofia. He was blessed with a loving and caring family.

In 1982 he married Betty Patterson. Most of their married life has been in retirement. They moved from Falls Church, Virginia, to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, in 1984. They joined the Palms Presbyterian Church in 1985. Pat enjoyed playing golf with the guys and joined them afterwards in the men’s grill to play a wee bit of “gin.” He had to give up golf because of failing health but continued playing cards with the guys. There was a hot dog “hole in the wall” in Birmingham that he swore made the best dogs in the universe and he was always seeking a comparable one wherever he went. He found a close fit at the DeMarco’s Hot Dog Hut and over time trained them to get his dog nice and brown, drain the kraut to preclude a wet bun, replace their toothpicks with sturdier ones and somehow keep the corner stool at the counter open just for him. As you might suspect, Pat had a dry wit that some folks had difficulty appreciating but if you could accept that, you would find that he could take as well as give and you could have a lot of laughs together. In essence, he was a self-made man that loved his family, his friends, his church and his country.

A few months ago Betty said a prayer with Pat and asked him if he was ready to go. Pat has always described himself as a lazy Christian. He gave her that crooked smile of his and said “whenever He is ready for me, I’ll be knocking at His door.”

A celebration of Pat’s life will be held at Palms Presbyterian Church, 3410 Third Street, Jacksonville Beach Florida on Monday, June 13 at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, gifts to Palms and/or Northeast Florida Community Hospice, 4114 Sunbeam Road, Bldg. 400, Jacksonville, FL 32257. Arrangements are under the direction HARDAGE-GIDDENS FUNERAL HOME, 1701 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach, FL.