William H. Patterson, Jr.

William Bill Patterson, age 92, passed away peacefully on February 8, 2014. Born December 16, 1921 to the late William Sr. and Freda Ulmer Patterson, Bill was a native Toledoan and devoted family man who always managed to see the bright side of life, even in times of adversity. His beloved wife, Eleanor, whom he married in 1948, preceded him in death. He was a great sports enthusiast with a special love for the UT Rockets and Michigan Wolverines. He loved to water ski, golf, and play bridge. He had many long and lively friendships from every stage of his life. Bill graduated from Scott High School in 1939 and The University of Toledo in 1943. After serving in the U.S. Army, he took a position as an accountant with The City Auto Stamping Company in 1946. This company, after a series of acquisitions and mergers, became Sheller-Globe Corporation. He was elected Treasurer in 1954, Vice President, Finance in 1965, and Executive Vice President, Finance in 1974. He was also elected to the Board of Directors in 1968, on which he served until his retirement in 1986. He believed strongly in giving back to the community and served on many boards, including the University of Toledo Foundation, University of Toledo Alumni Foundation, Flower Hospital, Flower Hospital Foundation, Sylvania Bank Corp., Toledo Chapter of American Red Cross, the Committee for Effective Government, The Rotary Club of Toledo, and the Toledo Chapter of Financial Executives Institute now Financial Executives International. He served as President of the University of Toledo Alumni Foundation and the Toledo Chapter of Financial Executives Institute. He also served as Chairman of the Golden Alumni Society of The University of Toledo for two years. In 1983, he was named Pacemaker of the Year by the University of Toledo College of Business Administration, was elected to the Scott High School Hall of Fame in 1987 and received the University of Toledo Blue T award in 1990. He was also a member of the Rotary Club of Toledo, the Toledo Post of the American Legion and The Toledo Club. He served six years on the Board of Governors at the Inverness Club and was Treasurer of the club for five of those years. He was also Finance Chairman of the 1986 PGA Championship. His family always came first. He and his wife Eleanor traveled the US with their children when they were young and by themselves or with friends after their children were grown. During Eleanors final illness, he was supremely devoted to her care and visited her multiple times each day. He and Eleanor were members of Epworth United Methodist Church. Survivors include his daughter, Janet Patterson, of Louisville, KY; son, William R. Patterson Mara of Plymouth, MI and two granddaughters, Anne Patterson fianc Tom Harder of Walled Lake, MI and Julie Jacobs Robert of Corvallis, OR. His brother, Robert U. Patterson, and sister, Maurine Tasch, preceded him in death. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 15, 2014 at Epworth United Methodist Church, 4855 W. Central Ave., Toledo, where military honors will be accorded by the U.S. Army. Friends will be received beginning at 10:00 a.m. Private interment will be at Toledo Memorial Park. Memorials are suggested to University of Toledo Foundation, Driscoll Alumni Center, Room 1002, 2801 W. Bancroft St. MS 319, Toledo, Ohio 43606