Sidney Wilbert Patterson

Sidney Wilbert Patterson was born May 12, 1922 in Fillmore, California to Harvey S. “Pat” Patterson and Edith Hazel (Foster) Patterson. He passed away Tuesday, October 9, 2012 in Okemah at the age of 90. Mr. Patterson graduated from Fillmore High School in 1944 and joined the U.S. Navel Air Corp. He served four years and was discharged after WWII. On December 13, 1943 he married Helen Jean Young in Corpus Christi, Texas. Mr. Patterson was a member of the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church of Okemah. He served on the board of trustees or several years and assisted with the upkeep of the church. Mr. Patterson was a talented woodworker. He often directed his wood working skills to such efforts as building more hymnal packets and small tables for flowers. Mr. Patterson was instrumental in forming the Ventura California Yacht Club and was a past commodore before moving to Oklahoma. He built two sail boats; the first was a 20 ft. boat and later a 30 ft. Rhode Island Sloop named “Tijer” after the Dutchman boat that discovered Rhode Island. In 1977 he took early retirement and built a home south of Okemah. It is a lovely place with views of the country side and forest hill sides. He and Helen would spend hours sitting on benches admiring their ponds and spending time together. Mr. Patterson was also a longtime member of the Wetumka Kiwanis Club. His daughter, Jana, says “one of the first thoughts of Dad was how quick was his wit; always joking and had a quick comeback to other’s jokes”. He is preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Richard. Survivors include his wife, Helen Patterson of the home; two sons, Sidney Stephen Patterson of Wetumka and James Brian Patterson of Etiwanda, California; two daughters, Linda Jean Ray and husband Bobby of Wetumka and Jana Kathleen Majeed and husband Ali of Oslo, Norway; one brother, Harvey Patterson and wife Emma of Fillmore, California; one brother in law, John Lloyd Young and wife Nancy of Coalinga, California; three sister in laws, Virginia Orr of Ojai, California, Barbara Alstot of Ventura, California and Margaret Larabee of Santa Maria, California; 6 grandchildren, Tami Jean Ray, Marsha Patterson, Charity Chapman and husband Jason, Rebecca Johnson and husband Daniel, Rabia Majeed and Aysha Majeed; 8 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews. All arrangements were handled through Parks Brothers Funeral Home, Okemah. A memorial service at the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Okemah will be held at a later date. Mr. Patterson said that the sum of his Christian learning was “It’s just nice to be nice”. He lived by that belief.

Sidney Wilbert Patterson

May 12, 1922 - October 9, 2012