Floyd Martin Patterson

Obituary: Floyd Martin Patterson, 88, of Heritage Woods Retirement Community in Winston Salem, formerly of China Grove passed away on Saturday, July 23, 2011 at Wake Forest University Baptist Med. Center.A graveside service with military honors will be held at 11:30 AM Tuesday, July 26 at West Lawn Memorial Park in China Grove. Rev. Jeff Atkins will officiate with military Honors conducted by the Rowan Co. Veterans Council. The family will receive friends at Whitley's Funeral Home in Kannapolis from 9:30 to 11:00 AM Tuesday, July 26, prior to the graveside service, at other times the family will be at the son's home.Floyd was born April 20, 1923 in Alexander Co., the son of the late T.R. and Suma Icenhour Patterson. Floyd was a veteran of WWII, serving in Italy for 2 years with the 34th Red Bull Signal Division. His career in safety spanned years of service with U. S. Casualty, Vulcan Materials and the U.S. Dept. of Labor from which he retired in 1988.Floyd and Hettie were devoted charter members of Blackwelder Park Baptist Church in Kannapolis. He was an avid and generous gardener and "Piddler". Floyd took great pleasure in gathering wildflowers for his "Sweetheart".In addition to his parents Floyd was preceded in death by his sister, Margaret P. Barnette, brother, Wade Patterson and great-granddaughters, Claire Elise Atkins and Graci Ella Wood. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 70 years, Hettie Watts Patterson, son, V. Reid Patterson (Cathy) of China Grove, daughters; Doris Patterson Brown (Butch) of Decatur GA, Susan Patterson Hutchens (Ron Rodden) of Lewisville and Lynnette Patterson Borden (David) of Winston Salem. Grandchildren include Eddie Hutchens (Sarah), Carmen Hutchens White (Bryan), Paige Hutchens Gallman (Greg), Angela Brown Atkins (Jeff), Sandra Brown Harrison (Kent), Emily Brown Parker (Shane), Darin Robert Patterson (Tara), Amy Patterson, Ashley Patterson Galliher (Josh), Traci Crater Kirkman (Chad), Lori Crater Wood (Jay) and David Gray Crater. He is also survived by 24 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.The family expresses deep appreciation to the entire staff in the palliative care unit atWFUBMC and Hospice of Winston Salem, with special thanks to his "Angel" Debbie Holder. Online condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com and in lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Winston Salem 101 Hospice Lane Winston-Salem, NC 27103
Visitation: 9:30am - 11:00am Tuesday July 26, 2011 Whitley's Funeral Home

Service: Graveside Service 11:30 am July 26, 2011 West Lawn Memorial Park China Grove, NC

Interment: West Lawn Memorial Park China Grove, NC