Bob Patterson was a shining example of the Greatest Generation. He came from humble roots, his parents having emigrated from Scotland to New York via Ellis Island. He served in combat in World War II and had a long and successful career. Kind and loving, he was ever a gentleman. Importantly, he was married for more than 70 years to his beloved Lea.
Robert Gibb Patterson, 94, passed away at his home in Boulder on Oct. 8, 2017.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 16, at Atonement Lutheran Church, 685 Inca Parkway, Boulder, CO 80303.
Bob was born July 16, 1923 in Brooklyn to Robert Patterson and Edith Isabel Grant Patterson. He attended Public School #146 and graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School.
At age 18, Bob enlisted in the Navy. He proudly served on the LCI 360 and USS Barbican in the Pacific theater of World War II, achieving the rank of Quartermaster First Class.
On March 21, 1946, he married the love of his life, Leatrice Ellen Holm, at Salem Danish Lutheran Church in Brooklyn. Together, they raised three children.
Bob earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from The Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn and became a licensed professional engineer. He went on to work for several engineering firms before starting his own company, R. Gibb Patterson & Associates. He retired after a 52-year career.
In 1978, Bob and Lea moved to Boulder, where they became members of Atonement Lutheran Church.
Bob was an avid woodworker and a voracious reader, especially about World War II history. He was a great storyteller, and Lea can hardly count the times they watched the movie “Midway” together—and Bob saw something new, every time.
He is survived by Lea, of Boulder; a son, Craig Brett Patterson and his wife Holly, of Weare, NH; two daughters, Debby Lea Vollmer of Baton Rouge, LA, and Stacy Patterson Fischer and her husband David, of Washington, D.C.; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Edith Moller.