Obituary of Richard Patterson

Richard (Bud) Earl Patterson passed away at the Foothills Hospital on February 8, 2007, one week after his wife of 73 years, Myra. Bud was born June 20, 1911, at Killam, AB, the son of Ivan and Bernice Patterson. He was an incredibly intelligent man who could and did do everything. After high school he took an accounting course, and then went to Normal School (Teachers Training). He began teaching in small town Alberta, as well as coaching baseball and hockey. During the summers, he worked on road crews, helped on farms, ran a concession at a lake in east central Alberta, and later he, with his wife, managed the Black Cat Ranch, in Entrance, AB. Bud met and married Myra Van Dewark at Hardisty, AB, on April 20, 1933. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942 at thirty-one years of age, and was posted to Mountain View, ON, Claresholm, AB, and Winnipeg, MB. He taught navigation and bombing until his discharge at the end of the war. Bud then joined the Edmonton School Board, and taught there for twenty-three years, a much loved and respected teacher. Towards the end of his career, he became a Principal. As an extra job in his spare time, Bud did the accounting for a small wire line service company. During the summers, he always worked. He managed a tourist camp at Maligne Lake in Jasper Park for five years, and he adjusted and adjudicated hail losses for many years. Bud was an enthusiastic curler, and was a member of the Shamrock Curling Club in Edmonton. As a young man he was a distance swimmer, and won several awards. Bud acted as his own lawyer for legal disputes, and lost only once. He retired at sixty, and spent twenty-two happy years in Apache Junction, Arizona, Where he took up the game of golf. He and Myra travelled around the world extensively. Bud learned to speak Spanish at sixty-seven years of age, in order to travel to Mexico and Spain. He was capable of incredible acts of generosity and kindness in helping friends and family members in their time of need. Bud is survived by his daughter, Yvonne (Bob) Pollock; special nephew, Ken (Jean) Van Dewark; four grandchildren, Pat (Peter) Raimondi, Maggie (Daryl) Richardson, Wally (Raelyn) Pollock, and Rick (Carolyn) Pollock; four “adopted” grandchildren, Peter (Kathy) Van Dewark, Jim (Cheryl) Van Dewark, Ann Van Dewark, and Dave (Stephanie) Van Dewark; sixteen great-grandchildren; as well as two nephews, Grant and Jim (Lena) Patterson, of Thailand. Besides his wife, Myra, Bud was predeceased by his brother, Harry (Winnie), and sister, Doris (Sydney) Clark. A Memorial Service will be held later in the spring, with Internment in the Lougheed Cemetery, Lougheed, Alberta. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In living memory of Richard Patterson, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot Chapel, 82 CROWFOOT CIRCLE N.W. Telephone: (403) 241-0044.