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November 13, 2019

Richard E. Patton, Died November 10, 2019


Richard E. Patton
Died Nov. 10, 2019

BINGHAM TOWNSHIP – Richard Edward Patton, 93, of Bingham Twp., passed away Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019 at Munson Medical Center.

Richard was born Sep. 27, 1926 in Detroit the son of James L. Patton and Diane R. (Donahue) Patton.  On Feb. 1, 1952 at the Mayflower Congregational Church in Detroit he married Bette Lu (Hallas) Patton who preceded him in death on April 16, 2016.

Dick attended MSU for a year and then enlisted in the US Navy during WWII.  During his transit to the island of Guam, WWII ended.  He returned to the states and attended Lawrence Technical Institute.  He graduated with a degree in electrical engineering and then worked for decades at Detroit Edison until retirement.

He and two other partners formed their own company, PRC; Patton, Richardson and Cady.  They performed electrical testing of industrial circuit breakers.  Dick loved sailing and was a member of the Detroit Edison Yacht Club and the Pontiac Yacht Club where he was the Commodore.  He was also involved in local Boy Scout activities and attended the Idaho Jamboree.

Dick enjoyed wood working, fixing clocks; he loved working with his hands and was a consummate do it yourselfer.  After retirement in 1995 Dick and Bette Lu retired to Leelanau County to the house they built. 

In his Leelanau County retirement he was active with the Lake Leelanau Lake Association where he tested water clarity.  He also was involved with the Inland Seas Education Association working on the Madeline teaching kids to sail.

Dick is survived by his two sons, James Gardner Patton and David William Patton; two grandchildren, Matthew James (Heather) Patton and Amanda Marie (Jerramy) Tollas; three great grandchildren, Alyssa Patton, Adalyn Tollas, and Annabelle Elizabeth Tollas; nieces and nephews, Janet Hallas, Dr. Peter Hallas, Laura Symons and Diane Evans.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Bette Lu; a sister, Margaret Ellen Evans; and his brother and sister in laws, Dr. Donald Hallas and Priscilla (Parker) Hallas.

A memorial services will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, Nov. 16 with the family greeting friends at 12 noon at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.  Rev. Dr. Robin Carden will officiate.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Leelanau Conservancy, PO Box 1007, Leland, MI, 49654.

Please share condolences with Dick’s family below or at our funeral home Facebook page:

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