Obituary of John Patton
John Kimball Patton “Kim”, aged 77, passed away on Saturday, January 16, 2021, at his home in Vail, AZ. Kim was born in North Charleroi, PA, on September 1, 1943, the eldest son of Howard and Bernice (Bane) Patton. He married Susan Olivia Cosby on February 1, 1964. Kim and Susan were true partners in life, each complementing the other. He was the quiet, analytical, introvert, and she the gregarious, artistic, extrovert. They shared a love of reading, camping, hiking, church, spending time with family, and laughing together. It was Susan who brought every pet into their home and it was Kim, after resisting every time, who loved and doted on each one. Together, Kim and Susan created a wonderful family of three children and seven grandchildren, and they spoiled all of them in the best way possible - with love, compassion, and devotion.
Kim was a truly remarkable person who embraced challenges and adventure throughout his life. Kim ran cross country at Parma High School in Ohio, and then at Bowling Green State University, where he graduated in 1965. He served his country as an artillery officer in Vietnam in 1966-67. Upon returning from Vietnam, he went to work for Goodyear Rubber and then Massey Ferguson Tractor in Akron, OH. Kim started his career in accounting but quickly became interested in the fledgling field of business computing. He taught himself multiple computer coding languages and would go on to work as a computer programmer and scientist for almost 40 years. He retired from the Computer Science Corporation in Tucson, AZ in 2005. Along the way, he earned a M.S. Degree in Computer Science from Azusa Pacific University.
If you were a casual acquaintance of Kim’s, his career as a computer scientist, his love of spreadsheets, and his ability to build his own stereo equipment and home computers probably makes perfect sense. It’s the other hobbies that might surprise you. Kim was a competitive motocross racer in the early 1970s, bringing home more trophies than the mantel could handle. He had countless bikes over the years and continued to ride motorcycles until the last decade of his life. He was an excellent mechanic, rebuilding the engine of his 1955 Chevy while stationed in Fort Polk, LA, and doing all of the maintenance on his racing motorcycles. He loved to rock climb and hike in the mountains. He hiked to the summit of every major peak in the San Gabriel Mountains of Southern California. In recent years, he enjoyed hiking in the Rincon Mountains of Arizona and learning the desert flora and fauna. He was always interested in endurance activities and completed the Detroit Marathon in 1982, and the El Tour de Tucson bicycle race in 2015. That same year, he and his brothers rode their bicycles over 300 miles from Pittsburgh to Washington D.C. He was an outstanding and creative woodworker, and many friends and family cherish the pens, bowls, and furniture he made over the years. He generally crafted things to give to others. In recent years, he also became a very good photographer. He loved taking pictures of nature and his grandchildren. The most impressive thing about Kim and his many “enthusiasms” was that he wasn’t naturally gifted in any of them. He loved to learn new things, he loved a challenge, and he worked hard and became very good at all of them.
Kim and Susan have been dedicated members of Presbyterian churches in Michigan, California, and, finally, at St. John on the Desert in Arizona. Kim served as an elder in three different churches and lent his talents as book-keeper, treasurer, photographer, and all-round handy
man. His favorite hymn was the “Lord of the Dance”, and despite Kim’s many talents, and the many skills he obtained over the years, he couldn’t carry a tune in bucket. Nevertheless, he loved music and sang his one note, loud and proud.
In addition to the love and pride he felt for his wife, children, and grandchildren, Kim loved being the oldest of five brothers. He always said that his parents gave him his four best friends. They are brothers that truly enjoy each other’s company and stay in contact, no matter the miles that may separate them. His brothers were a solace to him throughout his life.
Kim is survived by a large, loving family, that adored and admired him, including his wife of 57 years; son, David Kimball (Laurie) of Mount Pleasant, MI; daughters, Bonnie May (Jon) Petersen of Polson, MT and Kathleen Rae of Vail, AZ; grandchildren, Ejnar, Zachary, Isak (Cassie), Jeffrey (Nicole), Drew, Kelsey, and Kara; brothers, Seth (Linda), Mark (Gayle), Jeffrey (Margaret), and Drew (Beth); brother-in-law Edward (Jan) Cosby; many cousins, nieces and nephews; and friends from across the country. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother-in-law John, and sister-in-law Jane. He will be missed by one and all.
Memorial gifts and donations may be sent to St John on the Desert Presbyterian Church, Tucson, Arizona.
