William Franklin Patterson, 85, of Vero Beach, died Aug. 8, 2009, at the Hospice Unit in Indian River Medical Center. He was born Jan. 15, 1924, in Cleveland, Tenn., and moved to Vero Beach 64 years ago from Hayesville, N.C.
He and his wife, the late Marguerite B. Patterson, were the owner-operators of Patterson Electric in Vero Beach for many years. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Vero Beach where he had formerly served as a Deacon and for many years was a Little League coach in Vero Beach. Mr. Patterson was a veteran of WW II, serving in the US Navy at NAS Vero Beach, and participated in the initial landings on the Cherbourg Peninsula of France later assisting in the evacuation of casualties and POW’s across the English Channel.
Survivors include his daughter, Debra L. Patterson, of Vero Beach; son, William Keith Patterson, of Lake Worth; three grandchildren; sister, Ruth Ann Lands of Hayesville, N.C.; daughter-in-law, Jeanne Patterson, of Peachtree City, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends 5 – 7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the Cox-Gifford-Seawinds Funeral Home in Vero Beach. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m., Wednesday at the First Baptist Church of Vero Beach with Rev. Derrick West officiating. Interment with military honors by VFW Post 3918 will follow at Crestlawn Cemetery in Vero Beach.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church, 2206 16th Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 3260 or VNA Hospice 1110 35th Lane Vero Beach, FL 32960.
