Donald Raye Patterson

Donald Raye Patterson, 84, passed away with his family by his side on April 24, 2023, from complications related to Alzheimer’s Disease. Donald was born May 17, 1938, in Lynchburg, Virginia to the late Harry E. and Nora Alice Patterson. He was preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Betty Jean Nichols Patterson and his son, Roger Wilson Drake, III. Donald spent his early years in the mountains of Pearisburg, Virginia, relocating with his family to Norfolk, Virginia following the sudden death of his father when Donald was only 13 years old. A Granby High School graduate and US Marine Corps Reserve Veteran, Donald, “Captain Pat” was hired by Norfolk Fire in 1958. He served the citizens of the City of Norfolk faithfully as a firefighter until his retirement 39 years later in 1997. It was there that he met, and in 1976, married Betty, a Norfolk dispatcher, along with her five little children that he loved dearly as his own. They lived in Virginia Beach for many years until retiring to a farm in Wakefield. Following Betty’s death in 2020, Donald moved to Williamsburg to be closer to his daughters and grandchildren. Donald enjoyed the outdoors and often took his family hunting, fishing, and on frequent trips to the mountains. Papa Donald was a kind, loving, and generous husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend to everyone. Donald lived a life of service, always helping out others, never questioning, always present. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Left to cherish Papa Donald’s memory are his children, Cindy Drake Hinrichs (Mike), Betty Drake Beard, Terri Lynne Drake, and Timothy Walker Drake (Jennifer); grandchildren, Samuel Blount Drewry, III (Ashleigh), Victoria Drewry Hansen (Nathan), Megan Nicole Drewry, Alexa Erika Hinrichs, Amanda Holloman Beard, Adam Douglas Beard, Ashley Beard Szilvay (Blake), Dr. Jessica Lynne Wigley, Steven Owen Wigley, Jr., and Ethan Ray Drake; great-grandchildren, Kayleigh, Anderson, Avery, Scarlet, Samuel; brother, Harry E. Patterson, Jr., sister, Nora Patterson Wood (Raymond), sister-in-laws, Anne Nichols Eubanks (Sam), Debbie Nichols Andrezjewski (Terry), and Sandra Nichols Gardner, brother-in-law, Garland “Nick” W. Nichols, Jr., family friend, Louise Mokszanowski and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, extended family and friends. A funeral service and entombment will be held at 12:00 pm on Monday, May 8, 2023, at Princess Anne Memorial Park Mausoleum, 1110 N. Great Neck Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23454. Norfolk Fire-Rescue Honor Guard will be in attendance. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Norfolk Retirees Association, 1648 While Ln, Norfolk, Virginia 23518. The family would like to thank the staff at Sentara Williamsburg Hospital and Brookdale Chambrel for their thoughtful care of our “Captain Pat.”