Sandra Patterson

Sandra Patterson, 87, of Oxford, KS, passed away on January 25, 2025, in Wellington, KS.
Sandra was born April 15, 1937, in Winfield, Kansas, and lived south and west of Oxford, Kansas, with her parents, Harold "Boone" and Mabel Riggs, and two sisters, Wanda and Janice. Sandra and her sisters attended Greene School, 1 and 1/2 miles east of their home. Life on the farm was busy with chores, school, and 4-H activities. Sandra graduated from Oxford High School in 1955. She began college at Wichita State University, transferring to Emporia State College to study medical technology. Wallace and Sandra met there at Emporia State College and were married in Oxford at the Methodist Church on November 26, 1958. They moved to El Dorado, Kansas, for a short time, where Wallace worked for the Gas Service Company; then they were transferred to Mulvane, Kansas and started their family, and eventually ended up in Derby, Kansas. Sandra enrolled in Wichita State University and received her elementary teaching degree in 1969, she taught in the Derby school system for 11 years. She continued night and summer school classes at Wichita State University to complete master's degrees in 1973 and 1979. She earned an Educational Specialist Degree in School Psychology in 1981 and was employed in the Mulvane and Wellington School Districts for 22 years. She taught testing procedures at Wichita State University in night classes for three semesters prior to retiring in 2002. She was awarded the Crystal Apple Award by her peers in education. Wallace and Sandra began farming the Riggs family farm near Oxford in 1981. They moved from Derby to the farm in March 1984. This date marked 100 years that the farm was owned by and farmed by family. Wallace and Sandra continued after retirement to farm and maintain a herd of cattle. Sandra also published a children's book, Ben and the Bully, illustrated by her granddaughters.
Sandra was preceded in death by her husband Wallace Patterson, and is survived by children Kay (Doug) Petersen, Carol Wolf, and Keith Patterson. Grandchildren Kristine (Matthew) Krivensky, Stephanie (Jason) Moen, Ryan (Bri) Petersen, Mark (RoxAnn) Petersen, Risa (Joey) Jackline, and Adrianne Crabtree, and 12 great-grandchildren. Sister Janice (Joe) Stengel and brother-in-law Bill West.
Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Thursday, January 30th, 2025 at the Oxford Funeral Services Chapel, with graveside following at the Oxford Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-6:30 PM Wednesday the 29th at the funeral home; memorials in care of Oxford Funeral Services to the American Red Cross.
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