Obituary of William George Patterson

William George “Bill” Patterson died in his home on November 28, 2022, on Hilton Head Island, SC. He was 93.

Bill was born in Thornton, IL on January 11, 1929, to Claude Patterson and Marguerite Fleisher Patterson. He grew up in Griffith, IN where he graduated from high school. He served in the United States Navy, and upon completion of that service, he began a career as an electrician with his father’s contracting business. Then he went to work in electrical construction management with such national firms as LK Comstock and Gerson Electric, of which he became its owner. He was proud to be associated with such projects and numerous Commonwealth Edison nuclear power plants, Bay Area Rapid Transit in SanFrancisco, Oakland-Alameda Coliseum Complex, the Sears/Willis Tower in Chicago, and during his time in Pittsburgh, US Steel building, Equibank building, Oxford Center, and the Warhol Museum among others.

He was married on May 12, 1950, to Barbara Cunningham of Griffith, IN, and were the parents of three children: son, Dale, and daughters, Michelle and Ellen. They have nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. They had homes in Griffith, IN, New Madrid, MO, Western Springs, IL, Bradford Woods, PA, and retired in Hilton Head Plantation, HHI.

Bill was a member of the Scottish Rite, the Orak Temple in Hammond, IN. He served on the board of NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association). He was a member of Shannopin Country Club in Pittsburgh and Dolphin Head Golf Club, HHI. Bill and Barbara were members of First Presbyterian Church, Hilton Head Island, SC.

He loved music of all kinds, especially jazz, and loved to entertain and cook wonderful meals as a context for enjoying his and his wife’s friends. But golf was a passion for him, and he especially enjoyed his buddies on the course at Dolphin Head known irreverently as the Characters.

Mr. Patterson is survived by his son, Rev. Dr. Dale Patterson, and his wife, Patricia of Coppell, TX, daughters, Michelle Landman and her husband Dan of York, SC, and Ellen Bennett of Hilton Head Island, SC. He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara, and his brothers Claude and Thomas.

The family will hold a Memorial Celebration of Bill's life on Saturday, January 28th at 10:30 am at Hilton Head Plantation Headlands Park Bluff.  The ceremony will be followed by a luncheon for those attending.