John Patterson

John Gabriel Patterson, age 77, died on Wednesday, May 25,2016 at his residence. The cause of death was melanoma cancer, involving both lungs and his brain.
A celebration of life will be held 3 p.m., Saturday, May 28, 2016 at Crossroads Fellowship Church. His ashes will be interned with full military honors at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Visitation will be Friday from 4-7 p.m. at McReynolds-Nave & Larson Chapel.
John, also known to family as "Skip", was born January 1,1939, in Luciusboro, PA to Gourley and Geraldine Patterson. He was one of five children and learned early the importance of family.
In 1956, at the age of 17, John enlisted in the US Navy at the Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. He spent the next 20 years proudly serving his country. After spending years on the USS America, and after serving in Vietnam, John retired from service on December 24, 1975. Although having retired from military service, he continued to honor his oath to protect and defend the United States, with a deep love and loyalty.
The true joy of John's life was his family: his wife of 37 years, Judy, his four children: John C., Deborah, Dessie, and Jodi, his 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grand children. If you've met him, you've seen "the walking stick" and know how proud he was of his family and how much he enjoyed telling people about them all. Being the patriarch of such a large family brought him immense contentment and happiness.
John was preceded in death by his parents, 3 of his siblings: Beverly Patterson Myket, Gwen Adams, and Wilbur, one daughter, Dessie (Dee), and one grandchild, John David Crook. He surely had his own welcoming committee upon arrival to heaven and is enjoying many hugs and telling many stories!
Memorials may be made to Crossroads Fellowship Church, 2687 Tiny Town Road, Clarksville, TN 37042.
On-line condolences may be made at NaveFuneralHomes.com