John Patridge

1933 - 2018

John James Patridge, III

September 1, 1933 – May 22, 2018

After a life well lived, John James Patridge III said his final goodbye on May 22. He considered himself blessed with love, family, friends and career. John was born in 1933 to Bess Mitchell Patridge and John (Jack) Patridge in Coalinga, California and was followed by his brother and best friend, Joe, fifteen months later. They were raised in San Francisco, attending Aptos Junior High and Lincoln High where they made lifelong friends. John kept himself financially afloat during junior and senior high school delivering the morning paper for The San Francisco Chronicle.
John graduated from Stanford University and University of California Hastings College of Law and served honorably in Korea with the US Army. In 1957 he married Maria Smith and in 1960 moved the family to Stockton where John practiced law for 53 years. John took great pride in their six children, Carolyn Chabolla (Tom), Susan Misleh (Dan), John (Denise), Mary Shortz (Brian, recently deceased), Joseph (Diana) and Christopher (Tiffany), and eight grandchildren, Sarah and Emma Chabolla, Benjamin and Anna Misleh, Megan Pritchett, and Erin, Ryan and Julia Patridge. John was predeceased by his loving and talented grandson, Zachary Misleh. Later, following the death of Maria in 1974, John married Carole Wallace and they continued to raise the family in the supportive and cohesive neighborhood of Bours Park in Stockton. After retirement in 2014, John and Carole moved to Portland, Oregon to be close to family.
Always active, he was an avid tennis player, hiker and jogger. His travels with Carole in their later years were a source of enjoyment second only to spending time with family. Their short period of retirement was marked with the successful challenge of transitioning into unscheduled days, exploring Oregon and using the time productively.
John always looked at the bottle as half full. When he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the first thing he said to Carole after leaving the doctor's office was, "I'm ok with this." His attitude then, and to the end, was how fortunate and blessed he had been over a lifetime of learning, working and enjoying the love of family and friends. The last years were filled with the laughter and affection of those dear to him.
A Memorial Mass/Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00, Friday, June 22 at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton. In John's memory the family suggests donating to NW Kaiser Permanente Hospice and Palliative Care Association or a Hospice group of your choice.