William Patrick Jr. Ph.D.

When I was in middle school, Dr. Patrick visited my father, a natural scientist, in Shanghai for academic discussions. My family, along with our neighbor, traveled with him to the estuary area by taxi. We had lunch together, and I remember feeling shy when my father introduced me. In the afternoon, while Dr. Patrick and my father inspected the territory, I played crab-catching with the neighbor's boy.

Nearly thirty years have passed; my father has grown old, and I am now in middle age, living in Montreal, Canada. However, this memory remains vivid and cherished. Dr. Patrick was a kind man, and I am deeply saddened to hear of his passing. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends. He will be dearly missed, along with a piece of my childhood that will never return.

Billy and Family,

So sorry to hear of your Dad's passing. Though I never met him, I have heard and read so many admirable things about him. I know you all will miss him. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

My sister, Betty McGuire, notified me of our cousin's passing. We are both truly saddened to hear of this great loss. After reading all the messages in this guest book, I learned a great deal about his accomplishments along with his winning personality. How I wish I could have known him better. Ruth, please accept my sincere sympathy for you & your family at this sad time for all of you.

Dear Ruth and Family,

What a joy it has been to know Bill. He was such a kind and thoughtful gentleman. You two were such a cute couple!! In recent years it was a delight to see both of you together at the IFT meetings. I am so glad that we had a chance to visit in Las Vegas last month! With deepest sympathy.

Dear Ruth and Family:

It is with tremendous sadness that I recently learned of Dr. Patrick’s death. As my major professor during graduate school, Dr. Patrick’s support was critical in completing my degree. His positive influence on my life as a scientist and as a friend cannot be adequately described but will always be sincerely appreciated. Many will sorely miss his helping hand and extensive knowledge of wetland ecology.

Dr. Ruth Patrick & Family,



I was greatly impressed with the scholarly gentleman nature of Dr. William Patrick. He was an inspiration to my personal and career development, and I have very fond memories of my three years working in his laboratory at LSU. Best wishes to the family.

Dr. Patrick,

Just learned of your husband's passing. I very much admired him and was sorry that I was unable to help him with his air conditioner the last time he asked. May God bless. Elmer

Dear Bill Patrick's Family,

I am a fellow wetland scientist of Bill's. I had the pleasure of knowing Bill for over 25 years. He was a model scientist and a model person. He was loved and respected by all. He will be missed.

With Regrets,

--Ronnie Best

Dear Dr. Ruth Patrick and family



You have our deepest and heartfelt sympathy.



Thelma and Huel Perkins

Dr. Ruth Patrick and Family:



I am so sorry to hear about Bill. You are in my heart and prayers.

I have known and interacted with Bill for over 30 years on numerous occasions. He was outstanding as a scientist and represented the ultimate resource of wetland knowledge. He inspired so many individuals, including myself, and will always be remembered. I am so thankful for having the opportunity to know Bill. May God bless you in this time of sorrow.

Dear Dr. Ruth and Family,



Sorry to hear about Dr. Bill Patrick. Our family extends a deepest sympathy to you and your family for the unexpected loss of a love one.



Dr Patrick provided me the opportunity to pursue graduate studies at LSU from 1988-92. I am very thankfull for him and program he created for us (international students from developing countries).



Again our prayers and thoughts.



Glenn and Tina Fernadez and Family.

Dear Dr. Patrick and family:

I have not had the privilege of meeting you, but did meet Bill years ago early in my career at WES. I enjoyed our conversations and his presentations and other interactions. I know that he will be missed a great deal, but also that he left behind a great deal of knowledge and inspiration.

Dr. Ruth Patrick,

I want you to know that you are in our prayers. It's hard to find the right words at a time like this but you know that you hold a special place in my heart. Love to you and your family. Chef Sonnier

Ruthie,



My thoughts and prayers are with you and ALL the Patricks in this time of GREAT loss. Bill was a special part all of your grandchildren's lives! He was so loved by them all and will be dearly missed.



I must say, I will even miss coming to Baton Rouge and having Bill "check out" my weight gains and losses and asking me all those detailed questions!



Hold on to all your fond memories and LOVE those grandchildren extra now for Bill...



With deep simpathy,

To Dr Ruth Patrick and Family.



May you be comforter in knowing that so many people loves you. The joy, understanding, kindness that you and your husband has giving to so many will live on forever, and so will Dr. William Patrick.



Love always,

Joyce Andrews and Family

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the entire family upon your loss of such a special man. I along with many others will never forget how lucky we were to share a moment with him at church, a school function etc... He has a wonderful family to follow in his footsteps and he will be missed. God Bless You and know that he will always be with you.

I have been Dr. Patrick's accountant at LSU for the past 15 years. He was such a joy to work with. He was always smiling and joking. I'll miss him terribly and WBI will never be the same without him!! My prayers go out to Dr. Ruth and his family.

Dr. Ruth, If our lives are examples, Bill's example remains one for us to live and strive for always. I've known few people who've maximized life as he did by simply maintaining peace and humor. And though he is gone, his smile lives in the hearts and minds of all his friends and especially in the clear eyes of your grandchildren. They speak volumes on behalf of their grandparents. Be comforted by them and by those of us you've blessed with friendship. In the final analysis, we are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience. Bill knew that. With great love and admiration, Leo & Jackie

I first met Bill at the start of my career in 1980 and was ever mindful of the great respect displayed toward Bill by my colleagues. Throughout the years I had many conversations with Bill at meetings and sometimes just by chance passing in the airport. He truly is an inspiration in the manner he conducted himself in his career and in his life. My heartfelt prayers are extended to his family.

Ruth and family:



So sorry to hear about Bill. As seems to often be the case in these situations, John and I had been tlaking about getting down to Baton Rouge to visit with you all, and we just never got it all together.



I'm sure that I speak for many of Bill's students when I say that he has been a major influence in our lives and he will be sorely missed -but in a way, everytime I give a lecture on wetland biogeochemistry I carry on his legacy.



You are in our prayers.

Dear Ruth,

You and your family are in my love and prayers. We all thought that Bill was a wonderful man and know that he will surely be missed.

Dot Perry [Dorothy Dinnean]

I met Bill early in my career. To me he has always been, and will always be, the true model of what a great gentleman and a great scientist must be.

I was so very upset when I heard of Dr. Patrick's sudden death. Drs. Bill and Ruth have done so much for my family and myself for as long as I can remember. One of my fondest memories of Dr. Patrick was when he bought me a television when I was in pharmacy school in Monroe; he couldn't deliver it himself, so he sent a friend to do it for him. He will be forever missed, and I will always remember his beautiful smile and gentle manner. I wish that everyone could have known Dr. Patrick so that he could have enriched their lives as he did mine. Love and prayers to all of his family, especially Mrs. Ruth.

I was truly blessed to grow up with the Patrick family as close friends. Dr. Patrick was always viewed as being a hip parent and easy to talk to. He will be missed. My heart and prayers go out to his family.

Ruth,

We are so sad to hear about Bill.

I know you are going to miss him

terribly. What a wonderful husband and family man. What a life

he lived! We love you.

Your cousins,

Judy, Jack and Sandra Webb

Ruth, Cathy Champagne just notified me of Bill's death. I was shocked. I know you will remember all of the good times. My prayers are with you and your family.

Bill worked with the Corps of Engineers (Waterways Experiment Station) in Louisiana. He had a student with him on a particular project. Bill was a true professional, a dedicated professor, and a friend; and he will be greatly missed. My sincerest condolences to Ruth and all of Bill's family.

What a terrible shock to learn from the "Patrick Family" grapevine that my cousin Bill has died. All of us appreciate so much what he did to write the comprehensive geneology of several generations of the Patrick's in Mississippi. Ruth I wish I could be there to tell you that you have my prayers and thoughts at this time.

Bill was a very special person in my life. I have known him since I was 9 years old. He was always interested in my career and my family. He will be greatly missed.

Bill was one of the kindest and gentlest persons I will ever know.

May you rest in the peace of Christ.

I am sorry I can't be there with the family for the services in your memory.

Love,

Rhett

Billy, I was so sorry to read about your Dad this morning; while I never met him, it is obvious that he was an extraordinary person. A veteran, parent and scholar, folks like him are the ones who made this country great and are our real heroes. I hope your deserved pride in his accomplishments will comfort you now and in the future.

It was my great pleasure to work with Dr. Patrick for many years. He was such a great scientist but rarely encouraged the consequent publicity I thought was his due. I enjoyed picking at him about asking a reporter out to talk to him about breakthroughs, and then listening as he smilingly offered the creative reason of the day for why he couldn't be around for the interview. My love and prayers go out to his beautiful wife Ruth, and to his fine family. Sally Kuzenski

Very saddened to learn of Bill's death. We will surely miss his warm and friendly presence. Our thoughts and prayers to the family.

Bill was a dear friend to Jim and me always. He and Ruth kept up with us even after we moved. We appreciated his humour, his honesty, and his enduring positive attitude toward life. I hope we will all remember what he has taught us about our fragile world. My love to Ruth and the family

Ruth, our hearts and prayers go out to you and your family. We are so very sorry for your loss of such a fine husband and father.



Clifford and Arlene Zirkel

I remember Bill from a Zirkel reunion and a few other occasions, and found him to be a very friendly and admirable man. He leaves a rich legacy of achievement, human warmth, and Christian commitment to help comfort those who grieve for him.



Theodore R. Weber, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus of Social Ethics

Emory University

Dear Ruth,

I was so sorry to hear of your loss. I am thinking of you.

Mary York

Life gives us many blessings but there are only a few that compare to the joy I have in having known him.

Ruth and family,I extended my sincere sympathy on the sudden death of Bill - a great Christian and friend from LSU days over 50years ago!! God Bless you all!

We loved you, Bill, and will miss you greatly.

Our special love to all the Patrick family who are like family to us.

I am saddened to hear of Bill's sudden passing. He was such a vibrant and funny man. I'll always remember the twinkle in his eye. My thoughts go out to his lovely wife Ruth and the rest of the family. Godspeed, Bill!

Bill was my mentor and our friend we will miss him