Robert Stewart Patterson

Hendersonville – Robert Stewart Patterson died Friday, September 11, 2009 at his residence. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Fran Ferguson and David Ferguson of Ormond Beach, Florida; his daughter and son-in-law, Jan and Bill Wilson of Charlotte, NC and three grandchildren, Kaynie, Alec and Palmer. He is also survived by a special dear friend, Gayle Curtis of Black Mountain, NC. Bob Patterson played and enjoyed sports. He played a major role in baseball and was a 3 year starting pitcher for Harding High School in Charlotte. He played basketball for YMCA and was a starter for the team that played Durham for the North Carolina YMCA State Championship in 1944. He was an avid golfer who played the game just to prove he could play. In 1950 Bob enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He served 4 years and two of those years were with the 20th Air Force, 19th Bombardment Wing. He spent two years in the Korean War and received the rank of Staff Sergeant in two and a half years, receiving an honorable discharge in 1954. Bob graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1957 with a B.S. degree in Business Administration. Some years later he would be elected to the Alumni Board of Directors at the University of North Carolina, serving for eight years. He was also elected president of the UNC Alumni Association for Buncombe, Henderson, Haywood and Transylvania counties in the late 80's. In 1957, he began working for Sinclair Oil Corp. as a salesman. He left in 1968 as Regional Manager for wholesale sales for North and South Carolina. He then went to work for Pennwalt Chemical Company in Philadelphia, PA. He was in charge of the state of Tennessee for Industrial Chemical Sales. In 1970 he acquired Rankin Oil Company, which became Rankin-Patterson Oil Company. Over the next ten years he acquired 16 more oil companies. He remained in the oil business for the remainder of his life. In 1980 he was elected as Marketer of the Year for the southern region of Exxon Corp. In 1975 he served for eight years on the Board of Trustees of Montreat-Anderson College, Montreat, NC and in 1985 he was elected to serve four years on the Board of Advisors at Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, NC. Bob's strong belief in education led him to establish an educational foundation for the children of his employees. This foundation was started in 1974 and twelve young people were able to go to the school of their choice with his assistance. He was a founding member of the Council of Independent Business Owners Inc. and in 2008 Bob was awarded the position of Lifetime Member of the Council of Independent Business Owners. This was the highest award of this kind by any business owner since this council was formed. Bob has been very active in church, serving as deacon and elder at the First Presbyterian Church in Asheville. In the last several years he was a member of the Pinecrest Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville, NC. Bob Patterson loved life, he loved people in general but a child is what could lift his heart more than anything in this world. He always had a smile on his face and a good word for everyone that he came into contact with. His presence was contagious and the people who were lucky enough to be touched by his presence were blessed. He will truly be missed by all. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm Monday at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian. Entombment will follow in Shepherd Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 12:30 until 2:00 pm, Monday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Four Seasons Hospice, 581 South Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731.