Donald DeWayne Patton, 84, passed away on Dec. 26, 2019 after a brief bout with cancer. Donald DeWayne was born to Robert Pearl and Minnie Elizabeth Patton May 1, 1935 in Stephenville, Texas, the third of seven children.
The Patton family moved to Bryan County Oklahoma in 1939. In 1953, Donald joined the Air Force and was stationed in South Korea at the end of the Korean War. Donald met the love of his life in 1958 and married Almeda Inez Gibson on Dec. 20, 1958 in Alanreed Texas. Their three children – Inez, Becky and Donald Jr. – were born in various states as they moved around for Donald’s work as a military contractor with RCA.
In 1973, Donald left RCA and joined the Los Alamos National Laboratories (LANL) where he worked until retirement in 1993 as an Electrical Engineer in MP-11 on the Meson accelerator.
Donald was active in sports serving as a coach for his son’s Little League teams as well as playing softball for many years. Donald was also active in the Freemasons serving as Grand Master of Pajarito Lodge No. 66. After moving to Durant upon retirement, Donald was active in First Baptist Church Durant, including Families Feeding Families.
Donald was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Almeda; his parents; his sisters, Pauline Keyes and Oleta Patton and his brother Robert Patton.
He is survived by his three children: Elizabeth Inez Patton of Troy, Texas, Rebecca Leigh Patton of Fort Worth, Texas, Donald DeWayne Patton Jr. of Houston Texas; as well as his two grandsons, Keith Wallace and wife Kaitlin of Temple, Texas, and Nathan Wallace and wife Riley of Austin Texas; his great-granddaughter Ellie Wallace of Temple, Texas. Donald is also survived by three sisters: Lee Slayton of Cockrell Hill, Texas, Norita Duffey of Duncanville, Texas, Doris Hill of Durant, Okla.; two brothers: Jimmy Patton of Midlothian, Texas, and Michael Patton of Durant, Okla.; as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
A special thank you for dad’s loving care goes out to Texoma Medical Center and the Eighth Floor Staff, the Oak Ridge Nursing Facility, and Centric Hospice Care.
Visitation will be held at Holmes~Coffey~Murray Funeral Home on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, from 3-4 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at First Baptist Church Durant on Monday, Dec. 30, 2019, at 10 a.m. with Rev. Gary McNeill and Rev. James Robinson officiating.
Interment will be Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, 10 a.m. at DFW National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas.
1 Comment
Good man that did lot of good for anyone he met. He will be missed.