Robert "Doc" Patrick

Robert “Doc” Patrick

Fayetteville, NC—Much loved and adored husband, father, and grandfather Robert Conner Patrick, age 85, joined his Lord and Savior in Heaven on Thursday, August 7, 2025. His daughter Angela was at his side when he entered eternity to reunite with the love of his life and wife Shirley who preceded him in death. Their agreement was the one who joined Jesus first would be waiting on a bench for the other under the Tree of Life.

Robert is survived by his only daughter Angela (Jeff), his only grandson Robert (Autumn), and his only great granddaughter Hunter Elisabeth, his only niece Anne Carol (Carl), his only nephew Mark (Susan), and his great niece Andrea.

Born in Owensboro, Kentucky, where Doc, his mother Pearl, sister Elsie and brother Sam, all of whom preceded him in death, lived in government housing, Doc dreamed of a better life. He often talked about growing up poor and how it influenced the man he became. He loved being able to help others who needed a “hand up, not a hand out.” He felt he had been blessed in life, and he wanted to share those blessings with others. His smile and generosity knew no limits.

He was passionate about golf and attended college on a golf scholarship at Georgetown College in Kentucky. His love of the game brought him home to Shirley early in their marriage with news that he was not going to work anymore, he quit his job, and he was just going to play golf. Shirley told him if he was not going to work, neither was she and for a year, he supported his little family with the money he won playing golf.

Doc served in the United States Army as an 82nd Airborne paratrooper in Military Intelligence at Ft. Bragg. After retiring from the Army, he worked as the Division G3 Ammunition Manager for the 82nd Airborne Division, and later as the U.S. Army Ammunition Manager at the Pentagon. Anyone who spent even an hour with him would be guaranteed to hear some of his “war stories.”

Doc loved Jesus and his family, in that order. He wanted everyone to know Jesus. His greatest success was leading someone to Jesus and ensuring their eternal salvation. He loved meeting people and telling them “God loves you and so do I” whether it was door to door which he called “streetwalking” or going to minister to the incarcerated. He found immense joy in fulfilling the Great Commission.

While our hearts are broken, we know we will see each other again. For now, Doc and Shirley are together rejoicing in Heaven, sitting on a bench under the Tree of Life and probably making each other a little crazy, just as they did in life.

In honor of his wishes, the family will have a Celebration of Life at the family’s home at 6958 Timbercroft Lane, Fayetteville, NC 28314 on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 12 pm. Also, in honor of his final wishes, the dress is casual, wear his favorite color red or a Christian themed shirt.

Interment with Military Honors Monday, September 15, 2025, at 10 am Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery, 309 Murchison Rd., Spring Lake, NC 28390.

In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorials be made to St. Jude’s's Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Black Mountain Home for children, youth and families 80 Lake Eden Road Black Mountain, NC 28711.