James Patterson Jr.

PATTERSON, James Claude Jr., a retired NASA aeronautical engineer, died on April 26, 2010. He was born and raised in Richmond, Va. Predeceased by parents, James Claude and Helen Patterson; sister, Helen Worrell of Atlanta, Ga.; and brother, William Blake Patterson of St. Louis, Mo. He is survived by his sister, Jane Bernhard of Richmond, Va.; his daughter, Claudia Dryden and her husband, Larry, of Hampton; his son, Blake and his wife, Kerry, of Alexandria; grandchildren, Karene, Christine, and Jonathan Dryden, Rory Patterson; his devoted friend, Margaret Hurt; and many nieces and nephews. He graduated from John Marshall High School in Richmond and served over a year in the Navy during World War II, for which he received a Victory medal. He later attended VPI, graduating with a degree in aeronautical engineering in 1957. In 1986, he retired after a 35-year career as an engineer with NASA. In the years after his retirement, he was invited to speak at a number of aeronautics-focused events, including delivering an engineering seminar at Virginia Tech. A family service was held at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Richmond, Va. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled Veterans National Foundation, P.O. Box 96648, Washington, D.C. 20090.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.