Phillip Patton

Phillip D. Patton, 72, passed away from late stage vascular dementia on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at Kansas City Hospice House with his family by his side. Born on August 22, 1939 in Muskogee, OK as the only child to Dale and Mabel (Focht) Patton, Phil graduated from Stillwater High School in 1958, and attended John Brown University before joining the Army in 1960. Phil proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1962 and was stationed in Bamberg, Germany. After his military service, he married Judith Ann Lewis on October 5, 1968 in Independence, MO. Phil and Judy began their married life in Liberty, MO and then moved to Broken Arrow, OK, in 1972 and finally settled in Tulsa, OK in 1974. There they raised a son, a daughter and a dog named Shea. Mr. Patton spent several years in retail sales before taking over his father’s company, Patton Drilling, in 1982 after the death of his father. In 1989, Phil and Judy were joyfully able to relocate back to the church gathering place in Independence, MO. An active member of both the Buckner Restoration Branch and Missionary Restoration Branch, Phil held the office of Priest in the RLDS Church. Some of his favorite priesthood duties included visiting the sick, helping the Navajo Indian ministry, and attending church reunions in Oklahoma, Missouri and Maine. Known for his sense of humor and love of people, Phil was very social and enjoyed his Friday morning LOBs (Last of the Big Spenders) meetings, going on fishing trips with church buddies, and traveling with his family and friends. Phil had strong love for the Lord, his family, Oklahoma and the OSU Cowboys, his children’s friends, whom he treated as his own, and his dog, Annie. Phil is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Judy Patton; son Jonathan D. Patton and wife Bridget; daughter Carol A. Toney and husband Chad; his grandchildren Linsie Harrison, Cameron Patton, Aidan Patton, Brogan Patton, Ian Toney and Payton Toney. Services will be 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at Speaks Suburban Chapel, 18020 E. 39th St., Independence, MO 64055. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service starting at 1:00 p.m. Private graveside services will be held in Oklahoma.