Frank Caldwell Patton

Frank Caldwell Patton, 91, died on April 1, 2018 after several years of declining health.  Born in Morganton, NC on January 31, 1927, he was the oldest son of Frank Caldwell Patton and Mabel Pitts Patton.  Frank attended the local schools in Morganton and Glen Alpine and graduated from Morganton High School in 1943.  He attended McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, N.C. State University, and graduated from Duke University in 1950 after serving in the U.S. Air Force for eighteen months.  He joined Drexel Furniture Company in 1950 where he worked for thirty-seven years.  He worked in a variety of leadership positions including production planning manager, vice president for physical distribution and customer services, and vice president for nation account services.

He is survived by his daughter, Margaret Patton Hampson and her husband, Peter, of Morganton; a son, Frank Caldwell Patton, III (Pat) and his wife, Susan Reiser of Asheville; his sister, Maude Patton Cantrell and her husband, Henry Becker Cantrell; his sister-in-law, Elizabeth Lunson Patton; his son-in-law, Jeffery Banner Joyce; six grandsons, Daniel Harris Joyce, David Patton Joyce, Christopher John Hampson, Ian Patton Hampson, Matthew Reiser Patton, and William Reiser Patton; three great grandchildren; and four step-children.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wives, Susan Walker Patton; Ann Cornwell Patton; Elizabeth Gaston Patton; his oldest daughter, Ann Patton Joyce; and his brothers Joseph Pitts Patton and Charles Thomas Patton.

Throughout his life, Frank was actively involved in the Burke County community.  He was a contributing member of First United Methodist Church for over 75 years.  He served in leadership positions on numerous church boards and committees including the administrative board, the finance committee, the pastor-parish relations committee, and the stewardship committee.  He also served as a trustee for Western Piedmont Community College and was an active member of the Western Piedmont Community College Foundation.  While there he chaired the fundraising campaign to build the Phifer Learning Resources building and the Sam J. Ervin Library.  Over the years, he served as vice chair of the Morganton City School Board and as a member of the Burke County Red Cross Board of Directors, the Burke County Council on Alcohol, and Chemical Dependency Board of Directors.  He was a director of Morganton Savings and Loan for over thirty years including many years of service as vice chair and chair.   He also served as president of the Morganton Kiwanis Club, worked with the Burke County United Way, and served as a trustee for the Huffman-Cornwell Foundation.  Throughout his life, one of his greatest joys was playing golf at Mimosa Hills Country Club, where he also served as president.  He will be remembered by all who knew him as a loving, caring husband and father, an enthusiastic Duke fan, an avid golfer, and an active member of his church.

The family will receive friends in the Table Rock Room at Grace Ridge Retirement Community from 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, April 7, 2018. A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 8, 2017 followed by inurnment in the church columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 200 North King Street, Morganton, NC 28655 or the charity of your choice.

The family also wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the staff at Grace Ridge Retirement Community for the compassionate care and support they have provided over the past several years.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.