Robert A. Patton

Rye – Major Robert A. Patton, USAF Retired, 80, of Rye, died Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at Portsmouth Regional Hospital with loving family by his side, after a valiant battle with cancer. Bob was born August 7, 1933 in New Brunswick, Canada, the son of the late Andrew and Oressa (Bannerman) Patton. Bob was raised on Long Island and graduated from Georgia Tech University with a degree in civil engineering in 1957. He was in the ROTC Program at Georgia Tech and upon graduation, served his country honorably in the United States Air Force, a distinguished career that included several combat missions during the Vietnam War. He proudly flew the FB-111 and KC-135 aircraft and retired as a Major in in 1979 after over 22 years of service. When he retired from the service he opened Pro Kraft Custom Golf in North Hampton where he specialized in the manufacture of custom made golf clubs. Bob was a lifetime avid golfer with a hole in one to his credit and a dedicated Abenaqui Country Club member. He cherished cooking and drinking with his family and friends, especially making his infamous sour dough pancakes for his grandchildren. Family members include his wife, Mary Alice (Ring) Patton of Rye; his sons, Sandy Patton and his wife Maria of Reno, NV and Phillip Patton of Rye Beach; his daughter Karen Washburn and her husband Thomas of Scituate, MA; his grandchildren Michelle, Andrew, Natalie, Kaitlynn, Sydney and Lexi; his sister Ruth Askew of Albany, NY; his stepchildren Janice Lodge (Kevin), Sharon Ashworth (David), Kathryn Connor (John); grandchildren Jessica, Caroline, Meredith, Dylan, Lee, Grace, Sydney and Josselyn; 1 great grandchild Sullivan and nephews Bruce and Bobby. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his first wife Patricia, his son Gregory Patton and his sister Sue Hinners. Services will be held at 2 pm on Sunday, March 30, 2014 at Rye Congregational Church, 580 Washington Rd., Rye. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Central Cemetery, Rye. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 www.woundedwarriorproject.org or to The First Tee, 425 South Legacy Trail, St. Augustine, FL 32092 www.thefirsttee.org.

Robert A. Patton

August 7, 1933 - March 25, 2014