Robert L. Patterson

Bob was born on June 26, 1943, to the late Arthur Charles Patterson, Jr. and Arlene Loader Patterson in Boston, Massachusetts. He was a 1961 graduate of Rock Hill High School. After high school, he attended Clemson College until Thanksgiving break of his freshman year when he had to suspend his education to come home due to his father’s failing health and to help run the family business. He joined the United States Navy in March of 1962 where he was assigned to the USS James Madison as a Missile Specialist.

After his military service, Bob returned to his hometown of Rock Hill, SC. He started a career in the computer industry with the education and skills he learned during his time in the Navy. He married and had three children. In 1977, he became Vice President of Kanawha Insurance Company and moved his family to Lancaster, SC. He ended his career at Policy Management Systems in Blythewood, SC where he developed computer software for the Insurance Industry.

Bob was not the kind to sit idle, so after he left PMS, he tried his hand at selling real estate and cars. He eventually found that he enjoyed pest control and started his own company called Termite Prevention Systems. He owned this business until he officially retired in his seventies.

In his free time, Bob enjoyed music. He got his first guitar at the age of 7 as a Christmas gift. He was a self-taught guitar enthusiast. He played and sang for his church on a weekly basis. He was also an avid shagger. He learned the state dance as a young boy at a YMCA summer camp. His family owned a beach house on Ocean Drive when he was a child. He would go downtown as a 10-year-old boy and watch some of the state’s best shaggers to try and duplicate their dance steps. In 2005, he married the love of his life, Sue Evans Patterson. Together, the two of them founded the Lake Murray Shag Club. His love of music and shag prompted him to become a beach music disc jockey. He started his own DJ company called Carolina Beach Party. He and Sue would travel South Carolina dancing and working shag events. He also found time to teach weekly shag lessons to anyone who wanted to learn for free. He really enjoyed spending time with his shag friends all over S. C.

Bob had many titles that define him over the years. Perhaps his favorite was being Poppie to his eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He lived on the lake in Chapin and loved having the kids over to spend the night, attend the Chapin Labor Day parade, and tube, fish, and ski on Lake Murray. He was very proud of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur Charles Patterson, Jr. and Arlene Loader Patterson; his loving wife, Sue Evans Patterson; and his brother, William (Bill) Dunsmore Patterson.

Bob is survived by two sons, Gary L. Patterson (Paula) of Elgin, SC and Bobby Patterson (Ginger) of Greenwood, SC; his daughter, Elaine Patterson Swain (Tim) of Aiken, SC; Eight grandchildren: Brandi Johns (Hunter), Alexis Smith (Tucker), Adam Patterson, Garrett Swain (Dori), Madison Fincher (Chris), Matthew Swain, Erin McDermott (Sam), and Connor Patterson; two great-grandchildren, Mason Johns and Ella Fincher.

In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to Animal Mission in Bob's honor.

The family will have a private ceremony for Mr. Patterson.