Raymond R. "Butch" Patten, 74
Raymond R. "Butch" Patten, 74, of Columbia City died Saturday afternoon, May 8, 2010 at his home. He had been in failing health for the past few months.
He was born July 11, 1935 in Wells County, Indiana a son of Gail and Waunita (Smith) Patten. His formative years were spent in Ossian.
He began his work career as a farm hand and with Elzey Funeral Home in Ossian making ambulance runs and assisting with funerals. He became a truck driver with Mahnensmith and later moved to Ellis Trucking. He was a 20 yrs member of the Ossian Fire Dept. After breaking his back fighting a fire, he became a dispatcher for United Trucking in the early 1970s. In 1984, he became a full-time farmer for Carl Sheldon farms, Churubusco until his disability retirement in 1985.
On March 18, 1988 he was united in marriage to Judith D. Herbst. They made their home at Tri-Lakes. In September 2009 they moved to Columbia City.
Surviving relatives include his wife, Judith; three daughters, Kandace Patten, Churubusco, Linda Patten, Columbia City, Tamara Patten, Columbia City; a son, Douglas (Laurie) Patten, Fort Wayne; two step-daughters, Roxsann (Christopher) Carter, Tri-Lakes and Michele Nichols, Columbia City; three step-sons, Larry Lee Leazier, Columbia City, Donald (Joann) Leazier, Tri-Lakes, and Shannon (Tammy) Leazier, Waynedale; 27 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; a sister, Nancy Confer, Ossian; a brother, Donald James (Sarah) Smith, New Haven and an aunt, Mildred (Harry) Thornburg.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Smith, a sister, Francis Rush and a step-son, Shane Leazier.
The funeral service was held at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. The burial was in Nolt Cemetery.
For those who wish, memorials may be made to Visiting Nurse and Hospice.
He was born July 11, 1935 in Wells County, Indiana a son of Gail and Waunita (Smith) Patten. His formative years were spent in Ossian.
He began his work career as a farm hand and with Elzey Funeral Home in Ossian making ambulance runs and assisting with funerals. He became a truck driver with Mahnensmith and later moved to Ellis Trucking. He was a 20 yrs member of the Ossian Fire Dept. After breaking his back fighting a fire, he became a dispatcher for United Trucking in the early 1970s. In 1984, he became a full-time farmer for Carl Sheldon farms, Churubusco until his disability retirement in 1985.
On March 18, 1988 he was united in marriage to Judith D. Herbst. They made their home at Tri-Lakes. In September 2009 they moved to Columbia City.
Surviving relatives include his wife, Judith; three daughters, Kandace Patten, Churubusco, Linda Patten, Columbia City, Tamara Patten, Columbia City; a son, Douglas (Laurie) Patten, Fort Wayne; two step-daughters, Roxsann (Christopher) Carter, Tri-Lakes and Michele Nichols, Columbia City; three step-sons, Larry Lee Leazier, Columbia City, Donald (Joann) Leazier, Tri-Lakes, and Shannon (Tammy) Leazier, Waynedale; 27 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; a sister, Nancy Confer, Ossian; a brother, Donald James (Sarah) Smith, New Haven and an aunt, Mildred (Harry) Thornburg.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Smith, a sister, Francis Rush and a step-son, Shane Leazier.
The funeral service was held at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. The burial was in Nolt Cemetery.
For those who wish, memorials may be made to Visiting Nurse and Hospice.