Dale Patton

It is with deepest sorrow that we announce the passing of Ernest Dale Patton. After a richly lived life, he left us peacefully, surrounded by family on October 24, 2025.
He is now reunited with his parents, Henry Parker and Pearl Kelly Patton who preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Laurel Patton, daughters Robin McAlpin and Kristal Patton, son Seth (Amber) Patton, honorary son Seth VandeBerg, 5 grandchildren Hunter Patton, Isaac Patton, Jack Wells, Bodee and Bexley Patton, one great granddaughter, Amelia Patton, two sisters Bille Jean (Frankie) Steele, Pam Patton and a close circle of friends and cousins who will miss him dearly. While our hearts are heavy with grief, we find comfort in knowing that he is with the Lord, and his pain is no more.
Born in Alabama, Dale built a life centered on innovation, curiosity and adventure. Following his graduation from Plainview High School in Rainsville, Dale joined the United Stated Marine Corp. Dale was stationed in Hawaii and was a member of the Drum and Bugel Corp where he performed in such event as the Rose Bowl Parade and multiple NFL games. Following his time in the service he received a degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University. His professional career took his family to Florida, Ohio and Wisconsin but his roots called him back and he retired to his childhood farm in Ft. Payne.
Retirement, for him, was simply a new chapter. His adventurous and entrepreneurial spirit, which had already led him to earn a pilot's license, and purchase and renovate several buildings, homes and even a bakery, found its next challenge. After learning to build and repair computers in his basement, he founded Genesis Computers. This venture, like most of his ventures, grew from a personal passion into a cornerstone of the community, with the inclusion of a strip mall for this and other community businesses. He even inspired his loving wife to branch out into her own accounting business which she operated two doors down from his computer store.
Dale was a man of many layers, breaking the engineering mold with his profound love for literature and writing. One of his often-quoted lines was: "A moment lived intensely enough is eternity." His life was narrated by this philosophy in all that he set out to do.
Some of his other deep passions over the years of his life include Chess, reading western novels, Music, Philosophy, the War in Ukraine, nutrition, pocketknives, lifting weights, cattle, heavy equipment operation, and hunting for arrowheads and Indian relics. Dale leaves behind a legacy woven from his defining virtues: a boundless compassion for others, a soul-deep love for music that filled our home and his heart, a spirit that is not afraid and an unwavering courage to always speak the truth even if it meant ruffling feathers in the process.
A memorial service will be held at Broadway Baptist Church Faith Chapel on Saturday November 1, 2025, to celebrate his life. Visitation will be from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, with the service following at 3:00 pm. We invite all who knew him and would like to give their farewell to join us
Rest in peace, Dale. Your love and spirit will remain with us always.