Frederick Dewey Patterson
Frederick Dewey Patterson, Jr., age 92, of Amherst, passed away on Monday, August 4, 2025.
Fred was born February 8th in a Missouri snowstorm and grew up on the family farm. The youngest of four children, he was preceded in death by his parents, Frederick Dewey Patterson, Sr., and Mary Elizabeth Patterson, two older sisters, Effie May and Bonnie Lee, and his older brother, “JC” (Johnny Columbus) Patterson. He enjoyed farm life and at one time considered becoming a large animal vet.
He remembered watching aircraft over the family farm while driving teams of horses and wondering about all the fascinating and exciting places they were going.
Following high school, he started attending NW Missouri College prior to enlisting in the Marine Corps and applying for flight school.
After successfully completing pre-flight, he started out in jets, later transitioning to helos—first the big heavy ones, then later the H-34s.
When stationed in Taiwan, with flights pending to Japan for maintenance, he asked around, as was common, if anyone needed anything from Japan. It was typical, if anyone was leaving the island, to ask if others needed anything that could be picked up for them. A friend asked him to check on her Nurse Corps friend and see if her camera repair was completed.
After arriving in Atsugi and coming south to Yokosuka, he called her friend and agreed to meet at the local O’Club for supper. After a very delightful evening, he and Carol were wed in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 54 days later (over 60 years ago).
Following his tour in Taiwan, he was in Vietnam flying H-34s. He was wounded, taking a gunshot wound that took out his right eye. As a patient in the naval hospital in Yokosuka, he met a Navy nurse he then married 54 days later. He was sent back stateside to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, for follow-up care. The nurse he met got orders to Quantico Hospital about the same time.
He was medically retired and returned to George Mason University to complete degree work. He later finished his master’s at Lynchburg College. He worked as a substance abuse counselor for years in the Lynchburg area. He and his wife settled on a small farm outside of Amherst and raised sheep, cattle, horses, small stock, and a couple of sons. He was well known in the local community as he was active with the Farm Bureau, Masonic Lodge as a Past Master, the Anglican Church, and other community endeavors.
Many happy and loving memories will be with us and those who knew him. He will be sorely missed for a long time. May he rest in peace.
Fred is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Carol E. Patterson, and his son, Mark Patterson. He is also survived by two nephews, Rex Patterson and Randy Patterson.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. at Whitten Monelison Chapel. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will follow at 2:00 p.m., with Pastor David Turner officiating. Masonic Rites and honors by The American Legion Post 16 will be included as part of the service.
