Obituary of Dr. Richard Rodrick Patton

Dr. Richard Roderick Patton

5/31/1951-7/9/2023

Born in St. Petersburgh Fl.

The son of Dr. Bernard Washington Patton and Jesse Lee  Patton

He was the youngest of 4. His siblings were:

Ralph Patton, Colonel Currie Patton, and Patricia Cravey

He was the self proclaimed favorite of his father.  He said he was the "son of his father's old age." like Jacob and his son Joseph in the Bible.

He is survived by his wife Cindy Patton, daughter Valerie Dyer and husband Phil, Son Christopher Patton (deceased), and step son Mike Rhodes and wife Livy.

Grand Children: Cecily Kretzmann and husband Will. Zachary Patton, Sierra Cook and husband Tyler, Jacob Dyer, Destin Dyer, River Rhodes, and Stone Rhodes.

Great Grand Children: Maura Kretzmann, Bristol Kretzmann, Ronen Cook, and Christian Cook.

Rich attended night school to finish his high school education, and then went on to St. Petersburg Junior College, Oklahoma A&M, then

transferred to Northeastern Oklahoma State University for the remainder of his undergraduate semesters. 

Rich graduated from North Eastern State College with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics.

He started teaching, first a semester in St. Louis Missouri, then Nathan Gibbs High School, then Clearwater Central Catholic High School.

Just before completing his master's degree, Rich started an administrative position with the Manatee County School Board as Director of

Measurement, Research and Instructional Data Processing, and he worked there for 12 years.  During this time he

was attending the University of South Florida at night where, in 1975, he completed his Master's Degree in Educational Measurement and Statistics,

and continued in the Doctoral Program.

Rich started doing some computer programming, and did some computer accounting systems for various mission organizations and other companies

In Haiti and some companies in the U.S. using programming that he built.

In 1995 Rich took a position as an IT Director in a large firm in Sarasota and had various other teaching and programming jobs.

He often served as an adjunct professor at Everglades University, Keiser College, and Nova University

In 2009 he received his doctorate of theology from Newburg Theological Seminary.

In 2011 He wrote a book “Manic Episodes and the Dark Side, a Memoir of a Bipolar life"

He enjoyed studying, and learning especially when it came to theology.

He loved to sail!  With the help of a mentor, built his own small sailboat as a kid, owned and lived aboard 2 other sailboats. One of which he sailed

from Annapolis, Maryland to Florida.  Enjoyed golfing, and fishing, and telling stories, which he had plenty of experiences to draw from for these.

He loved music, especially classical, sang in the choir at church, and played the guitar.

A Celebration of Life Service will be at West Bradenton Baptist Church, 1305 43rd St. W. Bradenton Fl 34209 at 2pm Saturday, 7/22/2023.