Frederick "Fred" Patterson

Frederick "Fred" Patterson, 96 ESCONDIDO -- Frederick "Fred" Patterson passed away at home Sunday, October 24, 2010. He was born September 23, 1914 in Ballynahinch, Co Down, Northern Ireland and is the last surviving child of the 14 children of Robert and Sarah (Beattie) Patterson. Fred attended his local public grammar school and then went to work as an electrical apprentice for Gilmore & Co. where he stayed for four years. He earned a scholarship to Belfast Technical College to train as an electrical engineer. He joined the Black Company for about three years and then went to work for Robert Craig & Sons in Belfast. One of the many jobs he had at Craig's was for the British Admiralty during WWII. He installed and repaired radar systems. While at Craig's he met and married Elizabeth (Betty) Long on March 12, 1940, and they had three children: Freda, Elizabeth and Kenneth. Eventually Fred started up his own business. In 1951, the family immigrated to Pasadena, Calif., where they became active members of the community. Fred worked for Altadena Electric for many years, then worked on projects out of the IBEW Union Hall, and retired from Johnson Controls in 1976. After retiring, Fred and Betty moved to Escondido where Fred pursued his love of dogs, dog training, and duck and pheasant hunting. He won many awards with his dogs and became a lifetime member of the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of San Diego. His family and friends will sadly miss Fred and his colorful stories about the old country and his trip "across the pond." He is survived by his three children: Freda Lee, Elizabeth Dickinson and her spouse, and Kenneth Patterson and his spouse; 11 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 68 years, Betty, in April 2008; and his granddaughter, Tamra, in 1997. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations be made to the San Diego Hospice or UCSD Cancer Center. Sign the Guest Book online obits.nctimes.com