Patterson

Richard "Dick" M. Patterson, 91, of Forest-Mere, Butler, died at 10:42 a.m. Thursday in Butler Memorial Hospital.

Born Sept. 14, 1917, in Butler, he was the son of Melvin T. Patterson and Caroline Hoehn Patterson.

Mr. Patterson was a life member of the First United Methodist Church in Butler.

He was a partner in Patterson Auto Parts from 1940 to 1970 and a developer of the Forest-Mere Residential Plan.

Mr. Patterson was a Butler County Commissioner from 1976 to 1980 and was re-elected to a second term from 1984 to 1988.

He received a business administration degree from Grove City College.

For seven years, he was a scout master for Boy Scout Troop 7.

He obtained the original grant for the Butler-Graham Airport.

Mr. Patterson was elected to the Butler City Board of Education from 1947 to 1953. He also was on the Butler City Board of Recreation and helped obtain land for and helped build Memorial Park in the city.

He was elected to the Penn Township School Board from 1956 to 1962. He was a member of the executive board of Pioneer Trails Council B.S.A. and supervised the expansion of Camp Bucoco. He served on the YMCA Board of Directors and was chairman of combined industrial, business and residential effort, 1956-1958, for flood control for the city of Butler.

He was a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board from 1971-1975, president of the Butler Fellowship of Churches in 1973 and chairman of the Connoquenessing Creek Flood Control Authority; and for 65 years he was a member of the Rotary Club of Butler. He was president of the club in 1955. He helped build the Rotary Shelter, helped establish the local Easter Seal Society and was a Paul Harris Fellow.

Mr. Patterson was a 50-year member of the Victory Lodge 694 F&AM. Mr. Patterson also was a member of the Syria Temple A.A.O.N. M. S of Pittsburgh, the Butler Shrine Luncheon Club, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of New Castle and the Butler Country Club.

Mr. Patterson is survived by his wife, Anna Mae Thompson Patterson, who he married July 7, 1945; one daughter, Karen Wise of Butler; one son, Alan Patterson of Pittsburgh; one niece; and three nephews.

Mr. Patterson was preceded in death by his brother, John R Patterson.

<B>PATTERSON</B> Friends of Richard M. Patterson, who died Thursday, April 23, 2009, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and on Sunday following church at noon and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the <B>Thompson-Miller Funeral Home,</B> 124 E. North St., Butler. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. J. David Panther and the Rev. Tom Holman of First United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will follow in North Side Cemetery.Information and a private guest book are available at www.thompson-miller.com.