Rev. Donis Patterson

PATTERSON, THE RT. REV. DONIS, who died on February 3, 2006, aged 75, was a highly regarded bishop of Dallas from 1983-1992 who also enjoyed a successful ministry as a US Army chaplain and as a parish priest and later as a bishop used the concept of small group ministries to successfully grow his church and diocese. Elected the 5th Episcopal Bishop of Dallas in 1983, Bishop Patterson ably guided the diocese through the controversies surrounding the ordination of women, and successfully reorganized the diocese after the western half of the diocese was split off to form the diocese of Fort Worth. "Don Patterson was a man of deep spirituality," the Rt. Rev. Bill Folwell, retired bishop of Central Florida noted. "His prayer life was a model for all of us. His familiarity with Scripture showed in his letters, sermons and articles in the monthly publications of the parish and later from the Diocese of Dallas." As Bishop of Dallas, Bishop Patterson fostered the diocese's growth, helping start 14 new congregations, including one, Christ Church in Plano that has grown to become the Episcopal Church's largest parish."Don was a firm believer in Small Groups" the Rev. David Roseberry, rector of Christ Church said, "having witnessed a turn-out in his parish through Small Group ministry. In fact, the advice he gave me when he sent me to plant Christ Church was minimal: Think Small Groups. I did, and I think we all credit the growth and expansion of this church to its small group ministry originally inspired by Don Patterson. "Donis Dean Patterson was born on April 27, 1930 and reared in Holmesville, Ohio. After graduating from Millersburg High School in 1948, Patterson who was an Eagle Scout and recipient of the State Leadership Award from the 4-H Clubs of Ohio enrolled at Ohio State University, taking a degree in Agricultural Sciences in 1952. After graduation, Patterson was commissioned in the US Army, serving in Korea. Upon completion of his military service, he trained for the ministry at the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Mass., earning a Bachelor of Sacred Theology Degree in 1957. He then began a series of successful parish ministries, serving as rector of St. Andrew's, Washington Court House, Ohio from 1957-1963, St. Mark's, Venice, Fl from 1963-1970 and All Saints, Winter Park, Fl from 1970-1983. A cycling enthusiast, Patterson could often be seen riding his bike to All Saints garbed in a black suit and clergy collar and in his retirement he maintained a daily pace of 30 miles until illness forced him to scale back. During in his parish ministry, Patterson remained with the US Army Reserves, serving in the Office of Chief of Chaplains for twenty- three years, rising to the rank of Colonel in 1978. In 1974 he was awarded the first Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal given for "exceptional meritorious and faithful service" to an officer serving in the Office of the Chief of Chaplains and in 1982 was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. Upon his retirement from the Army in 1990 he was awarded a second Meritorious Service Medal for his service to the Chaplains Corps. Rheumatoid Arthritis forced Bishop Patterson to step down as Bishop and in his retirement he served as Assistant Bishop of the Central Gulf Coast from 1992-1995, and as Bishop in Residence at St Luke's Cathedral in Orlando from 1996. Donis Patterson is survived by his wife, JoAnne Nida Patterson, his mother, Louella, his son and daughter- in-law, Christopher and Vicky, and two loving grandchildren, Kirsten and Travis. One son, Andrew, predeceased him. A Memorial Requiem will be held at The Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Orlando, Florida, Saturday, February 11, 2006, at 11AM, with reception following at All Saints Episcopal Church,

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