Charles W. "Bill" Patton

Charles W. "Bill" Patton, age 86, died peacefully at his home, Lake KimTam Park, on December 11, 2016. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucia. He is survived by daughters, Kimberly (late Randy Perry) Cline, Tamara (Jason) Halverson, and Lana (Jerry) Bodnar. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Benjamin Litz, Heather Litz, Kyle Kuba, Joseph Kuba, Katie Cline, Nicholas Cline, Holly Brookbank, Joshua Borstein, Brian Borstein, Jennifer Norton and Elora, and Bridgette McMullen; 13 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Gloria Rogers. Bill was a 1949 graduate of Ellet High School. He served in the US Army, as Highway Patrol MP stationed in Germany through the Korean War. Bill was a dedicated, hardworking man his entire life. His first jobs included sweeping downtown Ellet sidewalks before school every day, loading railroad cars, cleaning the ice at the local ice rink, and selling Christmas trees. He attended Miami University and Kent State University, where he studied Architecture. He designed and built over sixty homes in the area. Bill also designed and patented a telescoping counterweight system that is still being used around the world. Using his patented system, he started Modular Lift, Inc., which held nationwide contracts, including jobs on federal buildings in Houston, Texas, as well as the Federal Building in downtown Akron. But possibly Bill's greatest design of all, and what he is most recognized for, is Lake KimTam Park in Uniontown. Starting with acres of swampland and a rubber dump, Bill used his education, work experience, creative thinking, and strong work ethic to design and build the beautiful family swim park. For the past 57 years, his hard work and determination has given families a fun, relaxing, memorable place to spend their summers. Lake KimTam has also served as the perfect home for him, allowing him to meet and talk to countless guests, whose laughs and smiles were so very important to Bill. He will forever be watching over his park, making sure that the smiles and memories continue for generations to come. Friends and family will be received Saturday, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Hopkins Lawver Funeral Home, 547 Canton Road, Akron, Ohio 44312. Memorial service will immediately follow at 5 p.m. with Pastor Larry Baldridge officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests performing a random act of kindness, towards family or strangers, young or old, big or small. This is something that Bill did on a daily basis, to help and enlighten people. By doing things for others, he was filled with a sense of thankfulness, appreciation, and happiness, and that is what Bill wanted more than anything. (Hopkins Lawver, AKRON, 330-733-6271) www.hopkinslawver.com