Visitation for Ronald Patterson, age 78 of Brashear, Texas will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home. Graveside service will be held at 11:30 A.M. on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at Greenview Cemetery. Mr. Patterson passed away on May 13, 2023 at Christus Mother Frances – Sulphur Springs.
Ronald Dee was born on July 11, 1944 in Sulphur Springs, Texas to Clifford Presley and Willie Mae (Coleman) Patterson. He graduated from Miller Grove High School, where he was known as a very popular guy in high school. He was elected the FHA Beau and was a straight A student. After high school he started another chapter of life that he was very honored to be a part of. On September 13, 1962 Ronald took the oath of enlistment for the US Army along with two of his brothers. Master Colonel George, administered the oath at the old post office at the corner of Smith Davis and Conley Street in Sulphur Springs. It’s fitting he went home to his Lord and Savior in the same place he started his journey. Ronald along with his brothers were assigned to Louisiana for training. In January 1963 Ronald took a train from Port Fort Polk to Oakland Naval supply center in California , there he boarded the USNS General Gaffey bound for Korea in February 1963. He anchored in Korea and stayed aboard the Gaffey for another month. Most of the time the weather was too bad to go to the top side, and he talked of being seasick a lot. While in harbor in Korea the ship was rammed by Japanese fishing boat which knocked big holes on the side, so the next 13 months were spent aboard a military base in Seoul Korea, and then after that he flew back to the US by plane to Anchorage Alaska and his final assignment was in Illinois where he was a stockade guard for the 204th Military Police Co. he was honorably discharged with awards of Sharpshooter Badge (Rifle) and Marksman Badge ( Carbine).When Ronald returned from overseas, he immediately started to work for Central Freight Lines. There he met and became friends with my mom’s brother, Uncle Rick. Ronald would say Rick was still his best friend today and that Rick helped take care of him because that’s what Bunches do. After Central Freight he went to work with his brother at Western Electric/South Western Bell, most of his career was spent in the communications industry and from there retired at Cytec/Nokia/Solvay industries. Consider yourself fortunate if you have seen Ron’s phone collection. Most importantly he was a hard worker and gave it all he had no matter what he was doing.
Ronald loved spending time with his family and his cats, he was so proud of his Aggie grandchildren, he enjoyed word find puzzles and scratch off bingo tickets, and when he was still able, he was an avid gardener, and fisherman. In his spare time, he loved to read the newspaper and watch/read westerns. He was a man of the Baptist faith, with a big heart and very much a jokester. You never left his house without feeling loved, having a good laugh and always leaving with more than you came with. If you came to visit you weren’t leaving empty handed.
He is survived by his daughter, Stacey Patterson Simmons and husband, James; grandson, Dalton Simmons and granddaughter Makenzie Simmons; twin brother, Richard Patterson and wife, Patsy; of Sulphur Springs, sister in law Donna Patterson of Lake Fork and was a beloved uncle Ron to numerous nieces and nephews.
Ronald was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, LJ Patterson, Robert Patterson, Kenneth Patterson and Clifford Patterson; sisters, Jimmie Roden and Oneta Stone; brother in law, Tal Stone.
Arrangements are under the direction of Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home.
