Robert Eugene Patty

Robert Patty, 85, died Wednesday in Abilene. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Sunday, March 19, 2006 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Funeral services will be at 1:30 pm on Monday, March 20 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, with Rev. Derrell Patterson officiating, assisted by Rev. Stan Allcorn. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. Robert was born on November 7, 1920 in Centerville, Arkansas to Andrew Madison Patty and Maggie Ola (Winter) Patty. He attended McMurry College where he was freshman class Vice-President and a member of Kiva Social Club. Mr. Patty served in the United States Coast Guard for 22 years. He served in the mounted beach patrol during World War II. On October 25, 1942, Robert married Mattie Nell Edens in Big Spring, Texas. He became a journalist in the Coast Guard when he rejoined in 1948, achieving the rank of Chief Journalist. Mr. Patty and his wife moved to Abilene in 1964 from the Coast Guard Air Station in San Francisco, California. From 1965 until retiring in 1983, Robert began a career at McMurry University. He started out as a student recruiter, then a sports information director. He acted as the Media Center Director and managed the text book department in the bookstore at McMurry. He also sponsored the Kiva Social Club. He loved to tinker with cameras and computers. He loved fishing with his grandchildren and loved to tell stories and share a good joke. Mr. Patty was a Methodist and a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church. Mr. Patty was preceded in death by his wife Mattie, on February 11, 2006. He was also preceded in death by both of his parents, one son Freddie Lynn Patty, three sisters and two brothers. He is survived by one son, Robert Leigh "Bob" Patty and his wife Judy of Abilene; one sister, Andie Ola Patty of Stratton, Nebraska; seven grandchildren, Shannon Marie Patty, Sandra Lynn Patty Rose and her husband Chris, Laurisa Venee Patty, Erin Nicole Patty, Robert James Patty and his wife Cathy, Jon Christopher Patty, and Emily Elisabeth Patty; and three great-grandchildren, Sean Michael Patty, Meagan Marie Patty and Logan Nicole Rose. Wade, Robbie, Jon and Sean Patty, Kirk Edens, John Wesley Deats, Jim New and Paul Lenker will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Randy Strickland, Jimmy Allen, Jimmy Underwood, Tom Patty, K.O. Long, Sam Harvey, Tom Wilkins and Chester Dougherty. Memorials may be made to Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1741 Sayles Blvd., Abilene, TX 79605 or to McMurry University, 1400 Sayles Blvd., Abilene, TX 79605. Online condolences may be sent to www.HamilFamilyFuneralHome.com.