George D. Patterson

George D. Patterson Jr. passed away at home March 15, 2012 at the age of 92.

He was born in Alliance, Ohio June 9, 1919 to the late Dorothy and George D. Patterson Sr.  His family moved to Lakemore, Ohio when George was 5 years old.  He attended Springfield Local School Systems where he met his future wife, Marie Swartz, and graduated from Springfield High School in 1937.  George was a member of the Army Air Corp in World War II.  He and Marie married October 1, 1939 in Lakemore, where he built their home and raised their three children, Donald, Judy and Bonnie.

The lot that the house sits on has an oak tree in the backyard where George kissed Marie goodnight before walking her home from their date.  They lived in that home for 68 years, and the oak tree is still there.  George and Marie were married 72 years on Oct. 1, 2011, and were the oldest married couple residing in Lakemore since their childhood.

George enjoyed hunting, fishing, photography, camping, traveling, and gardening, and loved building anything from campers to clocks.  He retired from Goodyear Tire & Rubber after 39 years of service.

He was preceded in death by sister, Mildred Mangus; brother, Melvin (Pat) Patterson; son, Donald Patterson; and grandson, Jeffery Ledbetter; and is survived by his wife, Marie; daughters, Bonnie Newman and Judy (Dan) Coble; grandchildren, Julie (Larry) Barath, Lori Coble (Sano), Mike Coble, Michelle Eicher (Ed) and Allen Newman (Contessa); great-grandchildren, Brett Kovach, Andrew (Colleen) Eicher, Kyle Eicher, Nathan Eicher, Hannah Eicher, C.J. Grimmett, Zach Grimmett and Logan Sano; great-great-grandchildren, Aiden James and Ava Harper; and sisters, Evelyn Whitaker and Phyllis Todd.

We would like to thank the staff of InCare Hospice for the great care and comfort they provided to George and his family. 

Funeral services will be held Sunday, 4 p.m., at Hopkins Lawver Funeral Home, 547 Canton Rd., Akron, OH 44312, with Pastor Jeff Gindlesberger officiating.  Private burial to follow at Hillside Memorial Park.  Friends may call at the funeral home from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday prior to the service.  In lieu of flowers, please send donations to InCare Hospice, 2321 Second St., Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223; or Lakemore United Methodist Church, 1536 Flickinger Rd., Akron, OH 44312.