Calvin Patterson
Age - 87
November 26, 2023
Calvin Eugene Patterson passed away November 25th, 2023 at Great Plains Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Dumas, Texas surrounded by family. Calvin was born June 17, 1936 in Cherokee, Oklahoma to Dorothy (Wilson)and Wilfred "Cotton"Patterson. Thanks to the school bus driver his first day of school, many friends and family forever knew him as "Peanut. " Calvin attended Burlington Schools and was salutatorian for both eighth grade and again in 1954 when he graduated. He was active in choir, FFA, basketball, baseball and tennis. He continued to play tennis much of his life and was known to outplay his adult sons. Immediately followin high school, Calvin joined the army and was stationed in Fort Bliss along with his older brother Jim. He was later stationed in Greenland at a vital radar sight. Calvin excelled due to his skills at building and repairing just about anything. While there he and four other men were ordered to travel from their base to a remote location to repair the radar tower but due to a blizzard were trapped for 56 days wih minimal rations. After a brief courtship, Calvin and Patricia "Patt" (Rathgeber) were married at her childhood home on August 26th, 1956. They were married for 66 years. They lived for a year in Fairfield, California where Calvin was stationed at Travis Air Force Base. They returned to Kiowa and Wichita, Kansas then settled in Cherokee, Oklahoma for the arrival of their first son, Michael in 1957. Two more sons, Jim and Gary arrived in 1958 and in 1960. Their fourth son Dick was born in 1967. While working at Cherokee Home Appliance, Calvin attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva graduating in 1965 with a degree in English. He returned to college and received his education endorsement in 1971. Patt and Calvin moved to Woodward ,Oklahoma for Calvin to begin his teaching career as an English and speech/theatre coach at Woodward High School. He continued his education receiving a master's degree in School Administration from Oklahoma State University in the spring of 1979. At the time of his retirement in 1994, he was teaching a vocational work program at Woodward High School. Patt and Calvin were active members for many years in the Woodward Coin Club. They also traveled the United States finding a record number of Geocaches. Calvin continued to do remodeling, bonded electrician work and appliance repair. During his lifetime he built much of the furniture in their home from harvested trees, made detailed, miniature, wooden toys from recycled cigar boxes, created silver and turquoise jewelry, got his pilot's license, tinkered with restoring a 1950 DeSoto and rebuilt computers making what he called Frankenputers. Calvin was preceded in death by his wife, Patt in June of 2023, parents Dorothy and Cotton Patterson, his siblings Virginia Zahorski and Jim Patterson. Also preceding him in death were his mother and father in-law Gladys (Schwanz) and Cecil Rathgeber. Calvin is survived by his sister, Mary (Patterson) Stauffer of Pryor, Oklahoma, four sons Michael Eugene and Kristy Patterson of Guymon, Oklahoma, James Edwin Patterson of San Diego, California, Gary Lee and Alicia Patterson of Newport News, Virginia and Dick Alan and Shaunda Patterson of Fritch, Texas. Grandchildren are Kiley Patterson Rios and husband Aaron of Yukon, Oklahoma, Lindsay Patterson Skelton and husband James of Texhoma, Oklahoma, Kelsey Patterson Sanders and husband Sean of Piedmont, Oklahoma, Amanda Patterson of Gloucester, Virginia, Tyler Patterson of Newport News, Virginia, Shey Patterson and Trace Patterson both of Amarillo, Texas. Great grandchildren are Berkley Rios, Tate Skelton, Lily Skelton, Quinn Skelton, Calvin Sanders, Kris Sanders, Alicia Patterson, Korbin Patterson, Tristen Patterson and Alexander Patterson. Calvin will be remembered for his quick wit and his stories to his grandchildren about The Old Indian. Graveside services will be held Monday, December 4th at 2 p. m. under the care of Bunch Robert's Funeral home in Guymon, Oklahoma with Russell Tidwell officiating. The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be given in Calvin's memory to Wounded Warriors, memorials will be accepted at Bunch - Roberts Funeral Home, P. O. Box 1112, Guymon, Oklahoma 73942. Friends and family can sign the online guestbook and leave condolences at www. bunchroberts. com.Show more