Robert T. Patton

Oct. 17, 2012

Robert (Bob) Thomas Patton, age 84, of Dallas, died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, at home.

Born in Larksville in 1928, Bob was a son of the late Ervin and Kathryn Dooley Patton.

He graduated from Saint Mary's High School, Wilkes-Barre, Class of 1947, and attended Mansfield State Teachers College and Scranton University. Upon graduation from King's College in 1953 he entered the United States Marine Corps Officers Candidate School in Quantico, Va. Bob served during the Korean War and remained in the USMC Reserve Unit, attaining the rank of captain.

Later, Bob worked at GAC Corporation in Allentown and became vice president in 1966. In 1970 he joined the Wyoming National Bank of Wilkes-Barre and became senior vice president.

A civic-minded individual, Bob was very active in his community serving on various boards, including the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce and its government liaison, legislative research and evaluation committees. He was a former member of the Board of Governors for the Wyoming Valley Country Club; College Misericordia Board of Trustees, its business advisory board and Campaign for Excellence; Board of Directors of the Wyoming Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross and its personnel committee. Bob was a past board member and faculty member at King's College and worked with its Business Division Advisory Council Cum Laude Campaign and was the 1981 Chairman of King's Annual Campaign. He was a former instructor for the American Institute of Banking, a former member of the Westmoreland Club and its membership committee; former board member of the Wilkes-Barre Catholic Youth Center and a former member of the marketing committee of the Third District Automated Clearing House Committee. Bob was formerly involved in the commerce and industry division of the United Way of Wyoming Valley and was a past team leader in its fundraising agency; he sat on the advisory board for the Diocese of Scranton, St. Pius X Seminary and was a synod member. He was a former chairman of the Board of Trustees for Luzerne County Community College and past president of Luzerne County Community College Foundation. He was former chairman of the Luzerne County Human Services Advisory Committee; a former lay advisory member of the Luzerne County Law and Library Association; past treasurer and member of the President's Advisory Council for the Economic Development Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania, a former contact banker for the Pennsylvania Bankers Association, assigning legislators on banking affairs. Bob was on the Business Advisory Committee for the Luzerne Intermediate Unit, a past member of the board of trustees and treasurer for WVIA Public TV and FM Radio and a former board of trustees member and treasurer for Clear Brook Inc. Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center.

He was a member of Gate of Heaven Church, Dallas.

Bob was preceded in death by his son, Patrick Robert Patton, in 1983.

Surviving are his wife, the former Patrice Dougherty; sons, Robert and wife, Silvana, San Diego, Calif.; John and wife, Maureen, Kennesaw, Ga.; Jerry, Swoyersville; Joseph, at home; daughters, Carol La Rose and husband, Paul, Centerville, Va.; Mary Ellen Schall and husband, Eric, Kingston; grandchildren, John Patton; Emily Patton; Lauren Cable and husband, Chris; Cory Patton; Beth Ann La Rose; Theresa La Rose; Christopher Schall; Harry Schall; Kristin Patton; brothers, Thomas Patton and wife, Lois, Las Vegas, Nev.; Edward Patton and wife, Rosalie, Kingston; sister-in-law, Sister Mary Clare Dougherty, R.S.M., Dallas; brother-in-law, Charles Dougherty, and wife, Joan, Port St. Lucie, Fla.; one niece; nephews; and dear family friend Sister Bridget Clark, R.S.M.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in Gate of Heaven Church, 40 Machell Ave., Dallas. The Rev. Joseph Elston will be the Celebrant. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township. Friends may call Monday from 4 until 7 p.m. at the Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home Inc., 140 N. Main St., Shavertown.

The Patton family wishes to thank the staff of Geisinger Wyoming Valley Henry Cancer Center and the Hospice of the Sacred Heart for the compassionate care and friendship they provided Bob.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Mercy Center, 370 Lake St., Dallas, PA 18612.