Robert Joseph Patterson

Robert J. Patterson, 73, of Centennial, Colo., died Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007 at the Denver VA Medical Center, in Denver, Colo.

Mr. Patterson was born Feb. 24, 1933, in Poplar Bluff. He graduated from Poplar Bluff High School and later from the University of Missouri at Rolla with a degree in Engineering. Mr. Patterson was an engineer for General Telephone and Electronics (GTE) and retired in 1987. He then worked for Communications Group, Inc. where he build many cell towers around the country prior to his retirement, in 1991. Mr. Patterson was a veteran of the United States Army, having served during the Korean Conflict.

On Sept. 5, 1953, he married Dorothy Barker, in Lovington, Ill. She survives.

Other survivors include two sons, Dan Patterson, of Centennial, Colo. and Doug Patterson, of Canon City, Colo.; his sister, Honeys Gray, of Poplar Bluff; and two brothers, Jack O. Patterson, of Memphis, Tenn. and Aubrey L. Patterson, of Santa Maria, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Okey and Nelle (Redfering) Patterson.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Saturday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel, in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. in the chapel, with the Rev. Charles Chatman officiating and the Rev. Jimmy Gilbert assisting. Burial will be at the Black Creek Cemetery, in Poplar Bluff.