Leroy Patterson

LeRoy A. Patterson March 28, 1915 � February 10, 2007

LeRoy Arthur "Pat" Patterson, age 91, of Springfield, passed away after a short illness surrounded by family, at 6:23 a.m. Saturday, at the Neighborhoods at Quail Creek.

He was born March 28, 1915, in Asbury, Jasper Co., MO, to Vernon "Keck" and Maude Eva Horn Patterson, and was preceded in death by a brother, Archie Lee Patterson, of Joplin.

He is survived by his wife, Gaylen L. Patterson; two daughters, Donna Williamson and Norma Salchow; four grandchildren, Renee Pellham, Kevin Williamson, George D. Schultz, Jr. and Ember Salchow; three great-grandchildren, Elena Stephens, Tyler Messier and Chance McPhetridge; and two great-great grandchildren, Riley and Schaffer Stephens; a sister-in-law, Kathryn Patterson; seven nieces, nephews and their children.

LeRoy was valedictorian of his 1932 Joplin Senior High graduating class of 274 students and was a member of the National Honor Society. He married Gaylen L. French 20 June 1936, in Joplin, Jasper Co., MO, at the home of the Oakland Christian Church minister, John F. Morgan. They were to celebrate their 70th Anniversary this year.

As a youth, he delivered telegrams, medicines, groceries, etc. for Western Union, and worked driving a truck to San Antonio for Urich-Robertson Produce Company. Ca 1934-5 he was driving between Ft. Worth, San Antonio, Little Rock, AR and northern LA to Shreveport, and made many trips from Joplin to the Kansas City downtown market.

He applied and was hired for a job with Southwestern Bell Telephone February 6, 1936, and began work in Joplin the next day. Three weeks later, he was transferred to Springfield.

He worked as a cable-splicer and clerk at Camp Crowder, a lineman, and an installer before being selected to work with the first 40-60, and later 75 wpm teletypes. He retired as a Teletype Technician, maintaining media, airport, and other teletypes in the Springfield area after 42 years, 1 month and 24 days of service on April 1, 1978. At 21 years of service, he became a Telephone Pioneer. Feb. 6, 2007, with 50 years as a Pioneer, he became a Lifetime Member.

After a hurricane in the fall of 1938, LeRoy was one of 210 linemen and pole setters from Springfield and AR who loaded their trucks on flat cars, and went to Manchester, NH to help. They worked from Sept. to early Nov., seven days a week (7 a.m. to 4 p.m.) except for Columbus Day holiday and a day it rained. LeRoy acted as clerk, requisitioning equipment, supplies and food.

LeRoy prided himself in his sense of responsibility, perseverance and determination. He was given a letter of commendation for those traits ca 1948. In sleet and rain, he had started out for the Lebanon newspaper office in his company truck when the roads became increasingly slick and icy. The truck began to slide and eventually slipped over the side of the road and overturned. His grip on the steering wheel was so tight that he landed right side up still seated in the driver's seat. Tools and equipment were scattered everywhere because the back doors had flung open. He proceeded to gather the tools up, select the ones he needed, tie the back doors together with wire, and hitch hiked into Lebanon with a woman who worked across the street from the newspaper office. He finished the repairs necessary and then called his boss to report the accident and find a way home. His favorite pastimes were fishing, float trips to many rivers and lakes in the Ozarks and vacations to all parts of the US and Mexico.

LeRoy was a very religious man who lived what he believed. He contributed generously to many ministries all of his life. Described by his fellow workers as "the most honest man they had every met," he was kind, peaceful, generous, thoughtful of other people, willing to forgive and strove to always do what was right. Everyone enjoyed his sense of humor and positive attitude. He was deeply loved and will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007 and the funeral will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007 both in Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home 500 E. Walnut with the Rev. Sol Codillo, Jr. of St. John's United Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in White Chapel Memorial Gardens. Online condolences can be made at www.hhlohmeyer.com.