OBITUARY: Dr. Earl Dean Patton
Dr. Earl Dean Patton of Eldorado, peacefully passed away at the Harrisburg Medical Center 8:15 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014.
Earl Dean was born on Oct. 3, 1922, to Earnest Harold and Lola Adoff (Overton) near Eldorado in Saline County. Raised near Eldorado, Earl Dean was encouraged by his mother to apply himself diligently to acquire knowledge and quickly ascended thru the elementary and high school grades. Earl began his higher education as a 15-year-old freshman at Southern Illinois (then called Southern Illinois Normal) University in Carbondale. Earl Dean received his elementary school teaching certificate in 1940 and began his teaching career in small local schools that were in dire need of instructors.
With the onset of World War II, Earl Dean entered the U.S. Army and after Basic Training was selected to the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Officer's Candidate School from which he graduated from on Oct. 28, 1945. Earl was sent to the European theatre and was shortly assigned to be an adjunct to Colonel Arthur A. White of the Third Army Group. As a result of meritorious service in direct support of combat operations from Dec. 7, 1944, to March 12, 1945, in France, he was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart among other commendations. He was decommissioned at the rank of Captain in 1946.
When the war ended, Earl Dean returned to Southern Illinois University and received his bachelor's degree in education in 1947, and met what was to be his future wife, Catherine Gaynelle Dent (daughter of James M. Dent and Sylvia Alice Morse). Earl and Catherine were married on Dec. 25, 1948.
Earl continued to teach school and further his post graduate studies. He received his State of Illinois Supervisory and High School Certificates in 1950 and held increasingly responsible positions as principal in Shawneetown among others. In 1952, Earl Dean received his master's degree in education from Southern Illinois University.
In 1953, Earl Dean was hired as assistant superintendent of schools in Kankakee. Two sons, James Kevin and John Brian, were born to Earl and Catherine in 1954 and 1956.
The Patton family moved to Champaign in 1958 with Earl Dean assuming the position of assistant superintendent of schools. He began his Doctoral studies at the University of Illinois School of Education under the guidance of Dr. Fred Barnes (who Earl later called his most dear friend and mentor) and Dean Vernon Nichols. Earl Dean published his doctoral dissertation on Curriculum Evaluation and Training Methods and received his Ph.D. in Education from the University of Illinois in 1962.
Earl moved his family to Culver City, Calif., when he was hired as superintendent of schools in 1963. After six years of superior performance in California, Earl Dean returned to his home state in 1969 to become superintendent of schools in Springfield. In 1973 he was hired by the State of Illinois as deputy superintendent of schools and ombudsman and retired at this position in 1980.
After retirement, Earl acted as consultant to many educational entities until the illness of his father led him to return to Eldorado. Earl Dean and Catherine designed and built their grand retirement home on the old family farm in 1990. He took great pride in having created an atmosphere of accomplishment and distinction on the site of his Depression-era childhood. In honor of this mother, who inspired him to rise above his humble beginnings and instilled in him the value of education, he named his new home Lolaland. The family home was the cherished site for all Patton family gatherings for the next 25 years.
Earl Dean was a 32nd Degree Mason with the Grand Lodge of A.F. and A.M. Western Star Lodge No. 240. He received his Life Member and Fifty Year Master Mason awards in 2006. Other awards and achievements include: Phi Delta Kappa-1957; Life member Illinois Congress Parents and Teachers Association; State Life General Supervisory Certificate awarded by Illinois Office of Illinois Superintendent of Public Instruction; Past President Illinois Association of School Administrators; Lifetime Achievement Award from Illinois Curriculum Counsel; Distinguished Citizenship Award from the Kankakee Chamber of Commerce; Distinguished Service Award from the City of Los Angeles, Calif.; Resolution of Outstanding Service and Professionalism awarded by the State of Illinois 80th General Assembly House of Representatives; and Recognition of Outstanding Service and Contribution to Education by the Illinois State Board of Education.
Earl Dean Patton is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Catherine Gaynelle (Dent) whom he cherished above all others; sons, James Kevin, wife Nancy Jean (Baker), John Brian, spouse Kimberly Kay Benckendorf; grandchildren, William Gre, wife, Melanie (Brown), James Ryan, wife Delany (Kunz), Catherine Elizabeth, fiancée, Darryl Fullmer; great-grandchildren, Abigail Lynn Patton and Hannah Lynn Patton.
Earl Dean was a lifelong, proud Republican. He believed in the tenets of the U.S. Constitution and held that with a sound work ethic, absence of excuse and a good education, anything was possible.
Earl Dean possessed an incredible intellect and superior vocabulary. His physical stature could not belie the size of his heart, his magnanimous generosity or the impact of his personality. We will miss his wry wit, clever quips and will always be reminded of him when we smell the aroma of a fine cigar and the tinkle of cubes at the bottom of a glass of good scotch. Earl Dean Patton will be sorely missed by all that had the privilege of his acquaintance and most of all, by his loving family.
Funeral services will be at noon Friday, Oct. 3, 2014, at Colonial Terrace Funeral Home in Eldorado with Jack Wiggins officiating. Burial will be in Cobden Cemetery in Cobden. Visitation is 11 a.m. to service time Friday. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Restitution Church and will be accepted at the funeral home.
Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family via the website www.colonialterracefuneralhome.com