ByebyeBabeSWEET SWEET BILLYWilliam Neff Patten, Born September 5, 1946 Falls River, Massachusetts left us for the better life on November 23, 1998 He is survived by his wife, Ann Patten, son, Patrick Neff-LaGrange Patten, daughter, Nichole Nye Trobare, and nephew, Tommy Patten, of Norman, Oklahoma, his father Thomas E. Patten, daughter Patricia Ann Patten, sister Margaret N. Keller, sister Colleen P. Patten, brother Thomas E. Patten, and brother Mark K. Patten of Virginia. He was proceeded in death by his beloved mother Lois Catherine Neff Patten and sister Maura K. Patten. He was a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Oklahoma and the Commonwealth of Virginia. He was the Director of the Center for Structural Control, and Professor, School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma as well as the proud faculty sponsor for the SAE Formula Car Team. He graduated from St. Mary Mother of God Elementary and Ballou High in Washington, D.C. He received his BA in Mechanical Engineering from University of Maryland, and his M.S and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia. He was a nember of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Society of Automotive Engineers. He served his country as a Combat Engineer in the U.S. Army, 9th Infantry Division in the Republic of Vietnam and was awarded a Bronze Star and an Army Commendation Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster. He was awarded the University of Oklahoma, College of Engineering Distinguished Lectureship Award; the Oklahoma Society of Professional Engineers Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award; the NOVA Award from the Construction Innovation Forum; a Charles Pankow Award for Innovation from the Civil Engineering Research Foundation; and from Engineering News Record the distinction of being one of the "Top 25 Newsmakers in 1996 cited for Achievements that Served the Industry". In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Catholic Charities, or to the William N. Patten Memorial Fund, University of Oklahoma Foundation, Norman, OK. Family will receive friends in typical Irish tradition after services at the home. Norman Transcript, Norman, Oklahoma; Daily Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Eastern Shore Gazette, Virginia, Blacksburg Sun, Blacksburg, Virginia, and the Washington Post, Washington D.C.
My Gallant Soldier
Our Brave, Brave, Knight
Heavens Shinning Star is now Angels delight
The Angels are singing, I can hear the hymn,
"we've captured a Brave Soldier and a Gallant Knight,
sing one sing all for heavens delight"
the Angels are dancing on top of the stars,
as the orchestra's melody raptures the skies,
while the wind dances and the blue blue bells sing,
to what do we owe such a prize!
He was brave, he was gallant, and he was the star in their eyes,
but Angels fear not, his deeds will live on,
as he remains in the stars above, lassoes the moon,
making the impossible seem attainable,
and so the Angels sing with glee...
He is a Brave, Brave, Soldier and
a Gallant Knight who is now Heavens Shinning Star,
and the Angels delight...
And the blue bell sings...
&
He will always be Sweet, Sweet, Billy for thee!
William Beff Patten
"Billy"
September 5, 1946 - Novmber 23, 1998/Maggie
My Salution He is an intrepid soldier. He would always ask a student: "Are you married?" and "Have you served in the army?"
Marriage gives a man responsibility and army gives a man dicipline and toughness. He, as the captain of the team, always pushed his team, and once he said "You should come back either with your shield or on your shield." What he needed was just the kind of man with dedication and courage.
He was a man who had never given up. He, in his life, told me a man has no right to give up. What a man should do is to go on and on, at the cost of sweets, time and life. He was a working nut and lived a dull life. He's a potent partner and rival. He's not easily conquored.
As time goes by, his face will disappear from my memory, his severness will evaporate and the hardship he gave me will become trivial. But his courage and diligence will go with me. He died as a MAN and he is resting on his shield at:
Lilac Hill Memorial Garden 4600 S. Broadway, Moore OK