Leaman (Pat) Patterson
October 21, 1920 - December 6, 2013
Pat was born to Francis and Elizabeth Patterson in a pioneer farm house near Alhambra, Alberta on October 21,1920. He grew up and lived there through the 20’s and 30’s, experiencing the Great Depression first hand. With the coming of the Second World War, at the age of 20, Pat enlisted in the Canadian Army, (Calgary Tanks: 14th Army Tank Regiment). He participated in the Dieppe Raid on 19th August, 1942, was captured and held as a prisoner of war for 3 years.
Upon his return to Canada, Pat met and married his wife, Joyce, in December 1945. After farming in Alhambra for a few years, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1954. He moved his family to postings in Whitehorse, Yukon, then Toronto, Ontario; Rivers, Manitoba and Calgary, Alberta before retiring from the miltary and settling in Campbell River in 1970. He finished his working career at MacMillan Bloedel, employed there as a heavy duty mechanic. After his retirement, he could be found helping out at the Campbell River Legion, gardening at home or helping to repair a car or two.
Pat was hardworking, loyal, and always willing to lend a hand. He was very well read and kept himself remarkably up to date and informed on current events. Pat was extremely proud of his family and their accomplishmentss
Pat was predeceased by his wife, Joyce, in 2003. He is survived by his 3 sons Jim (Linda), Hazelton, BC; Dale (Bev), Victoria, BC; and Grant (Eunice) Calgary, AB; daughter Terri (Butch) Campbell River, BC; grandchildren Geord (Amanda), Joel (Jen), Geoff (Zoe), Nick (Jen), Sarah (Noah), and Jonathan; great-grandchildren Lexi and Jonah and sister Fran Teskey of Rocky Mountain House, AB.
His family would like to thank the staff on the 3rd floor of New Horizons for their kindness and compassion; the staff at Ironwood Place and the staff at the Adult Day Care’; which was such a big part of his life in his later years.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Alzheimer’s Society.
A service was held at the Campbell River Legion on Saturday, January 4, 2014 at 1:00p.m.