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BORN
1929
DIED
2014
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Donald Patten Obituary
DONALD W. PATTEN, a geographer by training and lifelong interest, was born on November 11, 1929, in Conrad, Montana near Glacier National Park. He received both a BA (1951) and an MA (1961) degrees from the Geography Department, Univ. of Washington. He married Lorraine Louise Kienholz of Seattle, WA in 1952, and he leaves 7 children, 15 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. He was the owner of Microfilm Service Co. and Pacific Meridian Publishing Co. He professed faith in Jesus Christ as a college student in the early 50's. He was a lifelong church attender, most recently at Bethany Community Church in North Seattle. He had a lifelong interest in ancient history, ancient literature, climatology, genetics, geography, geomorphology, mathematics and philosophy. These interests led him to formulate and publish several original hypotheses relating to earth history and ancient accounts of "catastrophic" events such as the biblical flood. These are recounted in "The Biblical Flood and the Ice Epoch" (1966), "The Long Day of Joshua and Six Other Catastrophes" (1973) and "Catastrophism and the Old Testament" (1988). He edited the series entitled "Symposium on Creation" for Baker Book House from 1968-1980. With Sam Windsor, he co-authored "The Recent Organization of the Solar System", and 9 published essays. He was among a party of 10, led by David Fasold, who inspected what they believe to be the resting place for the ark of Noah, near Dogubayazit, Turkey, 18 miles due south of Mt. Ararat. Don was a supporter of Shoreline Christian School. Funeral: Bethany Community Church in Seattle on Thursday, February 20, at 11 am with reception following. Viewing will be at Acacia Funeral Home on Wednesday, February 19, from 1:00-5:00. You can find additional information about Don Patten at: www.acaciafuneralhome.com.
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Memories and Condolences
for Donald Patten
Sponsored by The Family.
May 22, 2020
Even though I, as a Christian, believe in an old Earth, I partially believe some of his own original ideas as well. Condolences to him.
kenpepito.com
ken Pepiton
October 16, 2018
His explanation of the wreck of the world, blessed me, and I try my best to bless others with it too.
Leslie G.
September 13, 2016
Sorry to read about Mr Pattens passing. He gave me my first real job at Microfilm Company in 1976 (not sure exact year). What an honorable boss....and he was a good man. And had a fun family! I remember that someone put lindberger cheese on I think Bills car engine during work. It was bad! Many fun memories Mr Patten!!! To all the family, God bless!!!
Gerald Arnold
October 15, 2015
What a terrific mind and spirit. I still have books and typed articles he sent me in the early 80s. They changed my life at an important time.
Paul Lindberg
August 16, 2015
Don's books on Catastrophism blessed me immensely. I referenced his work and built extensively on it in my own work, "The Feasts of Israel, God's Plan of the Ages." Today's emphasis on gradual evolution needs to be challenged, and Catastrophism is really the only viable alternative.
robert bruns
April 15, 2014
the Strong Code confirmed your research, my friend....viz..
5375 / NASA / to lift UP to the sky
1078 / Bel / mars
6453 = Passover...........James Strong & R. Bruns
March 31, 2014
he was a blessing to me through his book "Biblical flood and Ice epoch"
Bob & Kay Gill
March 5, 2014
A wonderful Christian couple and Godly influence to all who knew them.
Judy Fenton, daughter
March 2, 2014
Judy's Eulogy
Early in Israel's history, God used Sampson to deliver His people from the Philistines. The Bible says that Sampson judged Israel for twenty years. Sampson had some contradictions in his personal life, yet he was anointed by God to do an important job.
So with my Dad: God gave my Dad a vision of the physical forces that caused Noah's flood and numerous other geologic events of Earth's history, coinciding with the Biblical account. Thus Dad was able to pull down some strongholds of atheistic thought in today's world and present the truth of the Bible to people.
Yet Dad's last few years were spent were spent in a physically and mentally fragile shell. Dad was generally pleasant and content for his last few years, with occasional mood swings. The last few weeks of his life, Dad spent several hours each day humming happily.
I want to thank my daughter Eva, my son Jonathan, and my husband Mark, for helping care for my Dad during the years when much of the good of his mind had eroded, leaving frail humanity in its place. Through their patience and willingness to help, we were able to let Dad stay in the comfort of his own home for his last years on this earth.
Dad was a good provider in his life and now in his death. We do miss Dad's presence in the home. I miss just knowing that he's there and that he cares.
Chester & Donna Hoberg
February 22, 2014
With sadness of thought, but joy of heart, Donna and I wrap our arms around each of you. The loving memories that we have of our Dad's and Mom's, we can cherish forever.
Don IS, and always will be, my special friend; and brother in the Lord Jesus Christ. We had, but more important, will have, fantastic times together, forever.
I Corinthians 2:9 expresses it all - "things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who live Him."
We cannot comprehend the love, joy, peace, etc. Don is experiencing right now - "Praise God." So, until that day, while being missed, Don is in our hearts.
Memories: O'Brien's Turkey House on the way to Watson games. (hot turkey sandwiches & cherry pie ala mode)
Top row, Watson Groen gym, betting Dick's hamburgers on Watson games.
Hanging over the balcony at Darrington, harassing Coach Cousins.
Donna always making sure Don had a butterfinger candy bar.
Nancy White
February 21, 2014
Donald has done the entire Christian world a great favor by doing so much to fill in many blank spaces in Biblical history and answering a great many questions about the earth's history. He stood solidly against junk science and against demonic lies about our Creator as well. He is no doubt at long last journeying among our solar system and universe and if we but had our spiritual headsets on he is no doubt holding up a flag with Velikovsky, Einstein and a few others up Cydonia and trying to wave at us all. And he is no doubt dancing with Lorraine to 2 songs: "Fly Me to the Moon and Let me play among the stars, Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars" and the second: "We'll be shadows in the moonlight,Darlin', I'll meet you at midnight,Hand and hand we'll go,Dancin' through the Milky Way"
Have many blessed journeys Don and we will all be up there before long.
Linda Lowe
February 20, 2014
Aloha Patten family!
Although my husband Jeff and I (Linda Chang Lowe) now live in Hawaii, I have such happy childhood memories in Seattle, Washington some 50+ years ago when every Sunday after church service at Tabernacle Baptist Church, our Chinese family of six kids would get together with two other even larger families including the Patten family, for Sunday dinner! What fun! Since I was the oldest of the children (still elementary school age) I often was the brunt of practical jokes. I clearly remember sitting around the huge dining table while "Uncle" Don at the head of the table mischieviously stuck the rubber hotdog into the bun and handed it to me. Hot dog, hot dog, hot dog, rubber hot dog, hot dog, hot dog, etc. After the first time, I could always tell because the rubber hot dog was thicker but everyone still enjoyed a good laugh when I feigned surprise. I think he didn't dare give it out to the littler ones because they would probably swallow it! I still savor the taste of Aunt Lorraine's delicious meatloaf and can see her in my mind's eye wearing those handsewn aprons. Years later when we visited during our honeymoon, I acquired the recipe which I treasure! But we go even further back when we both lived in Northern California and our families were smaller. My Dad, John Chang, was brought to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus by Uncle Don at a Bible study in Northern California and then both our families moved up to Seattle, one after the other. Who orchestrated that do you suppose? Even after we moved to California when I was in Junior High, our families stayed close. When we needed help, the Patten family welcomed my brother Ralph into their home for a year. Imagine that! Jeff and I have three children, Tirzah, Liberty and Donald.Our youngest was named for three Dons: Don, my brother, Don Richardson, the missionary to New Guinea, author of Peace Child, and Don Patten. Thank you dear Patten family for precious memories which live on and for the Christian legacy which began when your father shared his faith with my Dad and Mom. Please pray for our son Don as he and Margaret, his bride of one year, travel to Cambodia as missionaries as early as the end of this year. So many generations have been blessed because of your parents. Thank you and praise God!
Don Chang
February 20, 2014
I only knew him as "Uncle Don", even though I suppose we might not have been blood related. My best friend growing up was John, who was named after my Dad, and I was named after Don. I have so many fond memories of the fun times the Patten's and the Chang's had together! When the two families went to Chinatown for lunch or dinner with 13 children it tow, it was never a dull moment! I know that our Dad's are having a joyous reunion in heaven. The Chang Gang's thoughts and prayers are with the Patten Family as we fondly remember our Dad's who were very close friends and brothers in Christ.
Leonard & Kyria Di Toro
February 19, 2014
Don was a friendly and caring person who always greeted his neighbors as he would a close friend. We will remember him for the times when he would stop by to just say hello and ask how we were doing. Don had a genuine interest in the people and world around him.
Our heartfelt condolences to the entire Patton family.
Heidi and Joe Monroe
February 19, 2014
Our deepest condolences to the entire Patten clan. We enjoyed knowing Don and Lorraine through Bethany Community Church, and connected further through Lorraine's Swiss heritage. What a blessing to know he is now with our Lord and Savior; our loss, heaven's gain.
February 19, 2014
Bill, sorry to hear about your dad. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Linda Weisz
February 18, 2014
I met Don 30+ years ago. He was a friend and resource of a young man we both knew. Don was looking for some assistance in calculating the gyroscopic precession effect on earth's rotation caused by repeated "fly-bys" of another large, celestial body. I was able to quantify many of the celestial exchanges Don had discovered described in ancient literature. The fact that the mathematics supported the described events intrigued me and my interests took a new tack that has never left me.
Don had a jocular way of describing the events of history that relieved nearly all of the usual tedium connected with learning and relating historical events. He could cast the events in word pictures, weaving in the influence of geography and demographics. He often capped these with the lessons intended for us by those who recorded the events. Don believed the point of it all was the on-going creation story of mankind among all the species of living things. Mankind alone seems to have been granted the gift of causing great evil and of receiving grace for dedication to rejecting that evil through exercising the individual power of love. One of his most charming traits I remember over the years of association with Don is that while he might disagree with someone intensely, he would never be disagreeable in thoughtful debate.
Don lived his faith to the best of his ability. He was true to himself and to the Lord Jesus Christ. He was my friend and it was my priv
ilege to walk with him in his search for knwowledge about God's interaction with mankind through the dim obscurity of history.
Sam Windsor
February 18, 2014
"Only one life - twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last."
Don's life was, and IS "...hid with Christ in God," Colossians 3:3
Love and prayers to your family, John and Cindy Patten. - Judith Neher
Andrew Wiggin
February 18, 2014
Mr. Patten made a cataclysmic impact in me back in about 1970, when he was a featured speaker at the "God, Family & Country Rally" at the Statler Hilton Hotel in Boston. I was only 9 in 1970, and spent most of the time playing with the elevators with my sister. But when I went to check in with my parents, there was a huge ("film strip") picture up on the screen, of a woolly mammoth. I was fascinated. My parents were impressed too, and bought a copy of the film strip and the book. Years later, we got a VHS version. His insight and scientific evidences for "how" God did the Flood remain unsurpassed even to this day.
God has put in my heart and mind (and now finally in my schedule, having semi-retired from practicing law) to write a realistic novel carrying forward Donald Wesley Patten's masterful research. The setting of my novel is Antarctica. My Dedication page will say: "This book is dedicated to Jules Verne, a novelist with scientific predictions, and to Donald Wesley Patten, a scientist with novel postulations." A few years ago, your family was gracious enough to have him sign my First Edition of his most amazing book. This is a treasure to me.
On my wall now are pictures of only six men who have deeply impacted my life. For these very important reasons, Donald Wesley Patten is one of them. We will meet in heaven with our Lord.
Andy Wiggin (Chesapeake, VA)
[email protected]
Nancy Tegman
February 17, 2014
Dear Family,
My husband and I met "Mr. Patten" at Christa Nursing Home where my mother was living the last 5 years of her life. He modeled such love and devotion to his "sweet Lorraine." It has been so interesting to read about him and his life. He was a very special man. We'll always remember him fondly.
Nancy and Kurt Tegman
Donald Patten & David Lewis @ church presentation
Jay Nelson
February 16, 2014
Dear Judy, family, and friends:
All of us who knew Don loved him, and appreciated his dedication to the Lord, and his research into Scripture. Don will surely be missed, but his legacy and insights will last for all time.
I still remember meeting Don at a Bible study on Y2K in 1999. Soon thereafter I visited Don at his home and I bought his books. While there, Don insisted that I purchase a photocopied book by David Fasold called 'The Ark of Noah'. Don suggested that I get my questions concerning 'the Ark' answered by Sam Windsor.
Shortly, thereafter I visited Sam Windsor on Orcas Island, where he instructed me on the Ark. Shortly, thereafter I talked to David Lewis and then Don, David, Sam, Paul Genung and I began the Seattle Arkology Society, and we built the Ark model. David did most of the work. Sam was the architect. Don and Sam contributed first hand accounts of the Ark site from their earlier visit. I provided most of the finances and coordinated the efforts. Paul carved the 'Drogue Stones' and helped with the cut-outs that David used for putting the model together. Don had a great time with the Ark model, as did we all.
These incidents occurred more than a decade ago, yet they are still very fresh in my mind. Don was always an encouragement to all of us.
Don was central to much of my mature understanding of the historicity of ancient Bible catastrophic events. I used Don's research in constructing my Bible TimeLine.
Don was a brilliant theoretician. Sam and Don made a great team for putting several books together. I am so thankful for that Y2K seminar that brought Don & I together. Y2K turned out to be a non-issue & non-event, but in the overall plans of the Lord, I feel that Y2K was one of the most significant events in my life, because the Y2K seminar brought Don and I together. Without the Y2K scare, and Bible seminar, I would never have met Don, Without knowing Don, I would have studied about the Ark, the Flood and other Bible events without ever knowing the truth about any of them. My spiritual life is so much fuller as a result of knowing Don that I can not imagine not knowing what I know as a result of our friendship.
Don, David and I all enjoyed sharing our Ark model with the Sisters at the Catholic Church in Spokane. Don always had a great heart for sharing and teaching the issues of the Lord.
My Optometry work will keep me from attending the services for Don, but I will keep you all in my prayers.
We all know that Don is now comfortably in the company of the Lord.
God bless and your family,
Jay
Danille Turissini
February 16, 2014
I never met Mr. Patten. However I do know his daughter, Judy. I can imagine him being all the poem describes, because I see many of the same attributes in her. I'm very sorry for your loss. May he rest in life eternal.
Michael Grow
February 16, 2014
Really enjoyed reading his books. Respectfully, Michael Grow
Cheri Hixon
February 16, 2014
My name is Cheri Hixon and my mom is Veda. We would like to know if this the Donnie Patten we knew thru Boeing. If not...we still send our condolences .
Eugene Porter
February 15, 2014
Don has completely altered my understanding of the phenomena surrounding the events documented in the B'rit Chadasha. His thoroughgoing review of the whole influence of Mars on Earth during its rogue centuries was one of the most fascinating reads I have ever done. Thank you, Don, for all that you did to bring us to our senses on this planet!
February 15, 2014
This thought from Montana and from one of similar age: I never met Donald personally, but felt I was well acquainted with him since reading his first book on the Flood and Ice Age in 1966, followed by a great filmstrip, Cataclysm from Space, in 1971. He was a great thinker and researcher -- able to collate logically ancient history, Biblical detail, and modern astronomy. He was a step or two ahead of contemporary scientists and theologians. I admired and respected him and utilized some of his conclusions in the creationism aspects of my ministries to adults and youth. Yes, our loss in great, but our Lord supplies a wonderful "ending" for each of us in our wondrous Lord Jesus. H. Eugene Eslinger, Christian Fellowship Ministries, Dillon, Montana.
William Thompson
February 15, 2014
Don Patten's writings and life changed my life for the better. I have been acquainted with Don's writings and personally for over 45 years. It began in the late 1960s when my pastor gave me a copy of The Biblical Flood and the Ice Epoch: A Study in Scientific History, which I read with some trepidation. I had just received a M.Sc. degree in astrogeophysics from the University of Colorado Boulder and thought that I was pretty cool. I initially thought to myself “Some fundamentalist has gone off the deep end.” However, time proved me wrong and I have since embraced astral or celestial catastrophism. In 1977 Don gave me the opportunity to publish an article “Extraterrestrial Origin of the Ice Age” in Symposium on Creation VI, which he edited. I also wrote a preface for The Long Day of Joshua and Six Other Catastrophes.
On a personal note Don invited me to participate in a Bible Science weekend conference he was conducting at a Baptist church in Swissvale PA which is a suburb of Pittsburgh. He spoke and I answered questions and we had a wonderful weekend together.
About 25 years ago my wife Diane and I were in the Seattle area to attend my sister's wedding. I contacted Don and although we had very little time he met us at the ferry and we chatted for the trip to Bremerton. We did enjoy working together.
Over the years I was busy with my career and was unable to participate as much as I would have liked in the celestial catastrophism area but Don and Sam Windsor and other kept writing. I did get to review a few preliminary documents, however.
For the past 6 years since retiring I have introduced Don's writings to many folks and I am trying to have his work looked at again now that we have voluminous data from space data being acquired.
I have missed his writing and will miss him as a writer and a wonder Christian model.
William Thompson
15 February 2014
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