Willa B. Patterson

Willa B. Patterson, age 104, died on Monday, January 9, 2017 in Abilene, Texas. She was born in Roscoe, Texas on August 2, 1912, to Blanche (Smith) Sloan and William Alexander Sloan. She graduated from Roscoe High School in 1930, and then attended Abilene Christian College for two years, after which she began her teaching career in elementary schools in the Roscoe area. She returned in the summers to Abilene Christian College and completed her degree Magna cum laude in August, 1937. In the fall of 1937 Willa B. moved to Brownfield, Texas to teach first grade. There she met and married Vester Lee Patterson in 1939, and had two children. Her husband died in 1962, and she resumed teaching first grade at that time. She also managed the farms that her husband left her, In 1977 she retired from teaching and moved to Abilene in 1978. She traveled widely, including trips to Europe, the Holy Lands, and Russia. She volunteered at the Christian Service Center and taught children's Bible classes at University Church of Christ, where she was a member. She was active in Delta Kappa Gamma as a retired teacher. She enjoyed spending time with her family and grandchildren. She began donating to Abilene Christian College, her alma mater, with her first paycheck in 1937 and continued donating up until her death. Preceding her in death were her husband, Vester Lee Patterson; her older sister, Opal Walls, and her younger brother, William Alexander Sloan, Jr.; and her parents. Her survivors include her children, Johnny Lee Patterson of Irving and Ann Little of Abilene; her sister-in-law Olena Sloan of Austin; and her seven grandchildren, Lee Pat Patterson, Erin Hughes, Karin Munro, Alicia Walls, Ellen West, Jan Cohu, and Andy Little. She also is survived by 12 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 12. A funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 13, at University Church of Christ chapel in Abilene. Burial is planned at Terry County Memorial Cemetery in Brownfield, Texas on Saturday, January 14, at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Christian Service Center in Abilene or Lubbock Children's Home in Lubbock, Texas.