Howard Patton

Mr. Howard Tivis Patton, age 70, of Richlands, Virginia, passed away Sunday, May 13, 2007 in a Johnson City, Tennessee hospital following a brief illness. He was born in Richlands, Virginia and was the son of the late Earl T. and Edna Mildred Burke Patton, both former Jewell Ridge, Virginia residents. He had made his home in the Richlands area all of his life and was the former manager of Sears of Richlands, Virginia for thirty one years. He was a Richlands High School Class of 1955 graduate and had attended Clinch Valley College. He was member of the Tazewell-Russell Shrine, Richlands Masonic Lodge #318 AF & AM, lifetime member of the Richlands Rescue Squad, and had served on numerous boards and committees both for the Town of Richlands and Tazewell County. He was the chief election officer for local voting precincts and was a former winner and participant for over twenty years in the Dupont World Amateur Golf Tournament in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He was a member, deacon and Sunday school teacher at the Gethsemane Baptist Church in Richlands, Virginia. Survivors are: His Wife: Jean Shortt Patton Two Daughters: Kimberly Dawn Dula and husband, Terry of Tazewell, Virginia Barbette Patton and husband, Michael Smith of Cedar Bluff, Virginia One Sister: Linda Kay Patton of Richlands, Virginia One Brother: Billy Charles "Bill" Patton and wife, Karen of Richlands, Virginia Four Grandchildren: Phillip Dula, Carly Dula, Matthew Dula, Jackson Patton-Smith Funeral services for Mr. Howard Tivis Patton will be conducted Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 11:00am at the Gethsemane Baptist Church in Richlands, Virginia with Rev. Jim Denton and Rev. Stafford Compton officiating. Interment will follow at Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill, Virginia. Pallbearers will be: B.J. Patton, T.J. Patton, Phillip Dula, Michael Smith, Jackson Patton-Smith, William Puckett, and Gary Damron. Honorary Pallbearers will be: Men of the Gethsemane Baptist Church, Steve Cooley, and Bob Tatum. Friends may call after 6:00pm Wednesday evening at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Virginia and one hour prior to the service on Thursday at the church. Masonic services will be conducted Wednesday evening at 7:00pm at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions made be made to the Gethsemane Baptist Church, 2902 Clinch Street, Richlands, Virginia 24641 or the American Heart Association, 4504 Starkey Rd., SW, Suite 115, Roanoke, Virginia 24014.

Howard Patton

April 5, 1937 - May 13, 2007