Charles Currie Patton January 7, 1937 – April 23, 2018 Charles Currie Patton, 81, was born in Lebanon, Tennessee and lived in Minnesota, Iowa, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Texas before moving to St Petersburg in 1945. He attended Pasadena Elementary, Disston Jr. High, St. Petersburg High, and graduated in the first class of Boca Ciega High School in 1954. He attended SPJC, the University of Tampa, and graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1960.
He received a Master of Education from the University of South Florida in 1985. He joined the Florida Army National Guard in 1954 and entered the active Army in 1958. After serving in the Infantry for six years, he graduated from the U S Army Field Artillery Officers Candidate School in 1960 and rose to the grade of Lieutenant Colonel before retiring in 1978.
He taught Army Junior ROTC at Plant City High School from 1978-1980. In 1982 he returned to teaching JROTC in 1982 at Dixie Hollins High School and retired from teaching in 1999. During his Army career, he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Services Commendation Medal, four awards of the Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Ribbon, the Army Reserve Medal, the Armed Services Expeditionary Medal, and the Vietnamese Service Medal, and was a Paratrooper.
LTC Patton served as the president and associate director of the Pasadena Community Church Choir, and directed eight other choirs during his military career. He was a founding member of the Boca Ciega HS Alumni Association, and served as the president for a total of ten years. He served as the Commander of both the Military Order of the World Wars, St. Petersburg VE Chapter and the Clearwater Chapter, was in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, was the Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 1963, and was a Trustee and Instructor with the Youth Leadership Foundation, Inc
He was the owner and operator of Patton’s Plaques and Engraving Company. He is survived by his wife, Claudia Queen Patton; sons, David Brian Patton of St. Petersburg, Patrick Jeffery Patton (Michelle) of Brooklyn, NY, and Richard Kevin Patton (Nena) of Sparta, Tennessee; daughter, Susan Michele Blackledge (Bobby) of Franklin, Indiana; seven fantastic grandchildren, Melissa, Brittany, Jessica, Joshua, Zoe, Kayla and Cole; two particularly gorgeous great-granddaughters, Miranda and Claire Stella; and an extremely handsome great-grandson, Liam Tyler. A Celebration of life service will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, April 28th at Pasadena Community Church (Main Sanctuary), 227 70th Street S., St. Petersburg, FL 33707.
Casual Reception following service. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Youth Leadership Foundation, Inc. to send as many students to the Leadership Conferences as possible at www. gofundme.com/pattonyouth-leadership-foundation.
David C. Gross Funeral Homes, Central Avenue Chapel in St. Petersburg is serving the family.
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