Bruce Patton
Bruce E. Patton, Sr., formerly of Chattanooga, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 8, 2017, surrounded by his loving family in Roseville, California.
He was born on Aug. 4, 1944, in Tacoma, Wa., to Napoleon Bonaparte and Ora Lee Crook Patton. He was the eldest child of four siblings.
He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, Joseph and Julia Patton, Ira and Rosebud Truitt, Aunt and Uncle Alfred and Iola Patterson of Pensacola, FL. As a child, he spent the first six years in Pensacola with his aunt and uncle, while his parents attended college at Tennessee A& I State in Nashville.
Bruce attended St. Francis Catholic School; he later attended Howard High School where he was a member of the football team, graduating in the class of 1962. He was also one of the demonstrators who sat in at the Woolworth lunch counter with the class of 1960. His picture was captured and appeared on the cover of Ebony Magazine. After graduation, he matriculated at Knoxville College, prior to enlisting in the U. S. Air Force, where he served 20 years and retired as a master sergeant. While serving in the military he would marry his childhood sweetheart Lena Wellington of Chattanooga.
To this union two children were born, and the family would spend many years in San Jose, CA, until his job with L3 Communications would transfer him to Colorado Springs, CO. Bruce prided himself as a dedicated family man who had words of wisdom for everyone even if you did not seek the information.
He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Lena; son, Bruce Patton, Jr. (Shelley) of Oakland, CA; daughter, Allison Monterrosa of Moreno Valley, CA; grandchildren, Marissa Pham, Raymond and Arianna Monterrosa and Shelby Patton; great-granddaughter, Azalea Monterrosa; three sisters, Vincinetta Bertelli Brown, Chattanooga, Monica Shiras (Michael) Taylor, Dacula, GA; Julia Rose (Charles E) Ingram III; sisters-in-law, Sadie (Ernest) Wrisper, Cleveland, OH; Patricia (Joseph) Knight, Chattanooga, dear cousins, Auldrey Carter, Indianapolis, IN; Irma Billingsley, Los Angeles, CA and Regina Jackson, Detroit, MI, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins; and many great-nieces, great-nephews and friends.
Viewing will be on Thursday, March 16, at the funeral home from 1-4 p.m.
A mass of celebration will be held on Friday, March 17, at St. Clare Catholic Church, 1950 Junction Blvd., Roseville, Ca. Interment will be in Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, Dixon, Ca.
A memorial celebration will be held in Chattanooga, at a later date.