Sam Patton
April 29, 1918 ~ August 24, 2009
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Samuel R. "Sam" Patton, 91, of 11 Zephyr Drive, Asheville, died Monday, August 24, 2009, at the John F. Keever Hospice Solace Center.
Mr. Patton was born in Swannanoa and was a son of the late Huber R. Patton, Sr. and Irene Davidson Patton. He was also preceded in death by siblings, Huber R. Patton, Jr., Helen Hipp, and Woodrow, Harold, Roy and Jim Patton.
Mr. Patton was an Army Air Corps veteran of WW II and was retired from American Enka as Athletic Director. He was a member of West Asheville Presbyterian Church.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret Kennerly Patton; two daughters, Pam Demos of Asheville and Vicki Moss of Asheboro; five grandchildren, Jennifer Parrish of Cary, Timothy Moss of Asheboro, Nicholas Demos and his wife, Jenny, of Cullowhee, Allison Demos Dameron and her husband, Tim, of Greenville, NC, and Christi Demos and her husband, Robert, of Asheville; two great-granddaughters, Amber Demos and Isabella Dameron; a special nephew, Rankin "Bud" Hipp, and two sisters-in-law, Evelyn Patton and Ruth Robinson.
A celebration of his life is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at West Asheville Presbyterian Church with the Revs. Drs. A. Willis Gaines, Douglas B. Tilley, and Ben Sloan officiating. Private interment will be at First Presbyterian Church, Swannanoa.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue.
Memorials may be made to CarePartners Hospice, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813, or to the Sam Patton Scholarship Fund, c/o Rhododendron Civitan Club, PO Box 17035, Asheville, NC 28816.
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The memories of my youth always include Sam Patton. He was my mentor and friend as I played sports in his youth programs at the Enka plant and later as I played for him in baseball. He always had a big smile and encouragement for whomever he came into contact with. He was a true leader of the community. He respected by all who knew him and he touched thousands of people, not only in the Enka community, but in the WNC region. My condolences to out to all of his family.
Dear Margaret,Pam,Vicki,and the Entire Patton Family,
Words cannot describe the heartfelt feelings of loss and sympathy that we have for you all. Sam fought ‘the good fight’ and there is no doubt that he is now in the presence of our Maker…Praise Be To God for letting us have the honor and privelege of knowing and loving him for all of these years…we know that the feeling was mutual! He was truly a remarkable man and will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Please do not hesitate to call us if there is anything that we can do to help you during these difficult times. We will always love Sam and you all!
Margaret and Family, We remember Sam and his siblings from Youth Conferences at Montreat from the Swannanoa Church as well as being on the session with him at the W. A. Church. Regardless of age, health, or any other circumstance in life we are never ready to lose our loved ones. The only comfort has to come from a real Faith in the Sovereignty of God and the manifested concern of caring friends. Please know we are thinking of you and holding you in our prayers. We just hope in some small way it does help to know others do care. Joe and Zunita
Tim and Hannah Dameron would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Sam Patton, known to us as ‘Paw.’ We have heard from Allison and Tim that he was a wonderful, husband, father, grandfather, and community servant. I know that he will be greatly missed. Sincerely, Hannah and Tim Dameron.
Mrs.Patton, Pam and Vicki,
My deepest sympathy,thoughts and prayers are with you. Love Donna and Jim Hedgpeth
Dear Mrs, Patton, Pam, Vicki and family:
You are in my thoughts and prayers; So sorry for your loss
Jennye Zeugner Johnson
Wow what a empty spot he leaves behind but what an asset he will be in heaven. He is well loved and will be greatly missed. Our deepest sympathy to all of you. Pete and Rhonda Maxwell Latrella
Bud and the Patton Family:
The community has lost a great friend for athletics there in WNC. I know that you have been greatly blessed to have known Sam all these years. May God bless each of you at this time of your loss.
Dear Bud and Patton Family,
I am very sorry for your loss. Sam gave so much to the kids of WNC. He will always be remembered for the many kindnesses he has shown others and the special man he was.
Dear Margaret, Vicki and Pam,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in the death of Sam. He was a highly respected person and one who meant much to the Asheville and Buncombe County communities. He was a very special neighbor to us during our Zephyr Drive years and one that meant a great deal to us.
We are sorry that we cannot be there with you to remember his active, successful and good life.
We admire each of you and send our sincere sympathy.
We are sorry for your loss and our prayers are with you in this time of grief. We love you guys. And know how happy Sam is now, he got to go home.
Remember we are always here to help, let us know.
I had the priviledge of working with Sam for a number of years at the Enka Plant and attending church at West Asheville Presbyterian with the family. Although I had the highest regard for his work and good deeds, his smile is what I remember most about him, not having seen him for over 25 years. My sincere condolences to Margaret, the family and close friends.
Frank Scott
Retired Enka Nylon Plant Manager
Morristown, Tennessee
A good and thoughtful man has passed. He touched the lives of so many young people. He pointed us in the right direction.
My heart goes out to the family.
Margaret, Pam and Vickie, my heart goes out to you at this time of loss. I know you’ll miss Sam terribly, but I also know you’re at peace, knowing that he’s with his Lord now. Can’t you hear him singing? God Bless you all.
Frances Cosgrove
Mrs. Patton,
My grandparents loved both of you so very much. I would have not been here if you two had not introduced them to each other. Mr. Patton meant the world to me and you both were always so good to me. I will miss him very much. I will be praying for you and I think of you often.
Dear Ms. Patton, Vicki and Pam, I send my thoughts and prayers to you during this time of grief. We have been blessed to have had our families for so many years and have such special memories to hold on to. With love, Portia and Robert Gajewski
Sam, I remember all the kindness shown to me many years ago. You taught me to play ball and you taught me about life. I will always remember your fine example and your kindness. You were a friend to all who were fortunate enough to have known you.
May God bless all your family.
Joan, Buddy and I would like to extend our deepest sympathy to you. Our love, thoughts, and prayers are with all of you.
Bud, and all the Patton family. I am very sorry for your loss and what a loss it is! He was definitely one of a kind in so many ways….sports, family, community, etc. My sincere condolences.
Dear Patton family,
I am sorry for your loss. Sam touched so many lives thur sports. Now he will be playing in Heaven. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Dear Margaret and family–Please accept our condolences, inadequate as they may be. Because our Saviour lives, Sam also lives, this minute, with Him in heaven. May God bless you and keep you, now and in the months to come.
Ms. Margaret,
I send my heartfelt condolences to you and your family. Mr. Patton touched so many lives and now he is moved on to his reward in Heaven!! I am saddened by your loss, yet when I remember that he is no longer in pain and able to run again, I rejoice! My prayers are with you and your family thru this time and we have a promise that we will see him again where there will be no more sickness, sadness or seperation.
Love,
Jeff, Melissa and Solomon Sluder
I was searchin for information on Sam R. Patton, an old freidn of mine showed me a picture that she has carried around since the 1940’s. It was a man in uniform, who stopped in a shop and got his picture snapped. He gave this picture to my friend all those years ago. She said his name was Sam Patton, and he was in the service during WWII. We talked about this man with her fond recollection. She wonders what ever happeded to Sam. And I wondered too. I am 35, my friend is 90. Sam seemed very special to my friend, and I wanted to do this for her, for whatever meaning it would have. Thank you so much. Emily Norman