A Celebration of Life

Robert Patton enjoyed life, his family and his many friends.  Second Vice Commander Ed Gill attended his memorial service and has this story to report.

“The first thing you heard as you walked into “University Presbyterian Church” on Saturday, April 27th. was New Orleans style Dixieland Jazz coming from the choir loft. This was the opening for Robert F. Patton’s memorial service. They played loud and strong until the service started. The last song they played, before the service started was, “When The Saints Go Marching In”.

When the minister for the service, Robert Dunham, began speaking, the first thing he said was, “This is the first time in all my years that the service has been scripted by the deceased, Robert Patton. I have in my hand two typewritten pages, single-spaced, with detailed instructions for the service.”

The service was a celebration of his life, his service to his country, community, church, fellow man and military organizations.

In between the eulogy, prayers, and songs there were two periods of meditation, during which beautiful music was played by Thomas Brown from the pipe organ behind the alter. The Memorial Service was attended by well over a hundred people, including about 15 members from the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts and both of their ladies auxiliary.”