Samuel J. Patton ’46

Samuel J. Patton ’46, of Toccoa, Ga., and formerly of Decatur, Ga., died April 18, 2008, at Toccoa Nursing Center. A son of the late James G. ’16 and Katherine Jones Patton, he was born June 27, 1924, in Atlanta and spent his early years in Abingdan and Waynesboro, Va. He attended Davidson until he was called into service for his country. He was a veteran of WWII, serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was stationed in England for three and a half years. He graduated with the Class of 1950 from the University of Virginia. He was a member of the V-Club, having played baseball for four years. He was also a member of the Eli Banana Society. He was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church, where he served as an officer of the church for more than 50 years, as well as a Sunday school teacher and class president. He also was an active Stephen minister. After graduation from U.Va., he moved to Orange, Va., where he coached football and baseball at Orange County High School. Later, he served in the Orange County Volunteer Rescue Squad and became one of the first life members. He loved helping people and giving back to the community. After several years, he became an executive in a hosiery company. The remainder of his career was spent as a sales representative and sales manager for several art needlework companies. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Toccoa and a former member of Clairmont Presbyterian Church in Decatur. He was preceded in death by his sons, Richard E. Patton and Samuel J. Patton, Jr., and twin brothers, James G. Patton ’46 and Claude “Red” Patton. Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth Merkel Patton, 7104 Crawford Hill Cir., Toccoa, GA 30577-8822; a daughter, Ann Lynn Patton; and sister, Mrs. William B. Carssaw.