Robert William "Bob" Patton
By: Terry McDaniel
Updated: March 1, 2013
Robert William "Bob" Patton, a resident of Dothan, died early Wednesday morning, February 27, 2013. He was 87.
Funeral services will be held 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 1, 2013 at First United Methodist Church with Dr. Jim Sanders and Rev. Allie Freeman officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Hill Cemetery with Byrd Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to service time on Friday.
Flowers are being accepted or memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church "In Christ's Name Fund", 1380 W. Main Street, Dothan, AL, 36301.
Mr. Patton was born September 2, 1925 in Pittsburgh, PA. He was a veteran of World War II, having served as a flight officer in the Army Air Corps. After his discharge, he pursued his flying career by instructing at Butler Airport in Pennsylvania. He later moved to Marianna, FL where he was flight instructor for Air Force Cadets at Graham Air Base. While there, he met the love of his life, Hazel Rhodes who would become his wife. In 1956, Bob left Marianna to join National Airlines, a career which would span over 25 years before retiring as Captain from Pan Am World Airways. Mr. Patton was a member of First United Methodist Church and the Pathfinders Sunday School Class.
Mr. Patton is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Elsie Patton and two sisters, Jean Lohman and Joann Smith.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Hazel R. Patton of Dothan; two daughters, Cathy (Ed) Alsafi of Englewood, CO and Jan (Mike) Adams of Douglas, GA; three grandchildren, Lindsey (Stephen) Seagraves of Athens, GA, Wesley Adams of Peachtree City, GA and Amanda Alsafi of Broomfield, CO and numerous nieces and nephews.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Pathfinders Sunday School Class of First United Methodist Church.
