Col. Robert Eli Patterson Usaf Retired

Colonel Robert Eli Patterson, USAF Retired

January 21, 1932 - October 10, 2025

Richland, Georgia

Beloved husband, father and grandfather, Col. Robert E. Patterson, 93, of Richland and Renfroe, Georgia, passed away suddenly and peacefully in Boone, North Carolina, with all his children and grandchildren at his side.

Robert was born on January 21, 1932, in Columbus, GA, and was the son of the late Robert Eli Patterson and Juliette Van Horn Patterson. He grew up on the Patterson farm at Renfroe, GA, during the 1930’s and 1940’s and experienced the fun and freedom of being a boy in the country with siblings, cousins, and friends. He was an outstanding son and grandson and worked on his parents’ farm and his grandfather’s farm as a young boy and teenager. He tended livestock, knew how to hook up mules to wagons, supervised farm crews, knew all about tractors and machinery, cutting timber and driving logging trucks.

He started college at Middle Georgia Junior College in Cochran and was accepted to Emory Dental School but had second thoughts after watching and hearing the Air Corps P-51 Mustang Fighters flying over the Georgia countryside during the post WWII days. He loved the speed and the roar of the airplane and opted for a few years flying fighters before deciding on a lifetime career.

He applied and was accepted to the Air Force Aviation Cadet program. Robert was commissioned and received his wings in January 1953, and his first assignment was a Fighter Squadron in Alaska. In June 1954, Robert married his childhood sweetheart Betty Sims Patterson, and she joined Robert in Alaska beginning their marriage that would last 70 years. After a couple wonderful assignments, they decided that the Air Force would be Robert’s career and “the family” career. Robert and Betty moved 22 times in 31 years with Claudia being born in Georgia in 1957, Robert in Massachusetts in 1962 and Julie born in Florida in 1964.

During his Air Force years, he completed his bachelor’s degree at Syracuse University, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and obtained his master’s degree at Auburn University while attending Air War College.

Air Force assignments included Alaska, Massachusetts, New York, Iceland, Florida, Vietnam, Virginia, Alabama, Washington DC, Thailand, South Carolina, Panama and lastly Eglin Air Force Base in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida rounding out his 31 years active-duty military career.

Robert and Betty made wonderful homes and were fabulous hosts. Whether in black tie in Washington, D.C., white dress diplomatic uniform in Thailand or Panama, in his flight suit at Friday night Happy Hour, or in hunting clothes at his Renfroe farm, Robert always made everyone around him feel special and have a wonderful time.

He was a squadron pilot in many assignments in the Air Defense Command flying interceptors such as the F-94, F-89, and F-101. In the Tactical Air Command, he flew A-1, A-7s, A-10s, in the air to ground arena. Robert commanded an Air Force Team in a covert Special Operations assignment to Cambodia in 1975 during the last months before the Khmer Rouge over ran Phnom Penh. He saved hundreds of Cambodian lives with some preplanned evacuation arrangements and prepositioned resources. Robert held many positions including staff assignments at the Pentagon, command at squadron and wing levels and as Wing Commander of the TAC Wing in Panama, Vice Wing Commander, Major Air Command where he brought the A-10 into inventory. In his Air Force career, he flew 16 different types of fighters and trainers and accumulated over 5600 hours of jet fighter time.

During his Air Force career, Robert Patterson was awarded The Air Medal for Meritorious Achievement while participating in an Aerial Flight, The Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism while participating in an Aerial Flight, The Air Medal First thru Sixth Oak Leaf Cluster for Meritorious Achievement while participating in an Aerial Flight, The Bronze Medal for Meritorious Service, The Air Force Commendation Medal First Oak Leaf Cluster, The Meritorious Service Medal, The Air Force Commendation Medal, The Legion of Merit, The Distinguished Flying Cross for Extraordinary Achievement while participating in an Aerial Flight, A Joint Service Medal, A National Defense Service Medal, A Vietnam Service Medal, and The Air Force Longevity Award.

Robert continued an active life after retirement from the Air Force. He worked another 15 years for defense contractors with BDM in Washington DC and Vitro Service Corporation in Ft. Walton Beach. He was also busy maintaining his family farm in Georgia planting and growing pine trees and building a barn and country place for his family to gather. The timber business had been in the Patterson family for a very long time. His grandfather bought the first part of the Patterson farm in 1913, and Robert’s farm was recognized for being a Georgia Centennial Farm in 2014 at the Georgia State Fair for continuous farming for 100 years. Robert loved sharing his farm and inviting friends to come and hunt and have family gatherings. For many years he always had his friends and family in the fall for annual deer hunts and in the spring to hunt turkeys. All his grandchildren learned to drive starting at a very young age and all have roads named after them at Renfroe. Nothing made Robert happier than to have all his children and grandchildren together at Renfroe.

Robert was very active in volunteer organizations and was a long time Daedalion, (association of military pilots), an Air Force Association member for over 30 years (AFA), he served as local AFA Chapter President, AFA Florida State President, and was twice elected to the AFA National Board of Directors. He was active in the Eglin Chapter AFA Scholarship Foundation and was co-honored with a $25,000 scholarship established in his name as recognition for his long-time leadership of the local scholarship campaign, which had raised more than $1 million over the years to send deserving young people to college. He was a charter member of the unique Air Commando Association and was a long-time member of the Board of Directors and charter member of the Emerald Coast Military Affairs Council.

His church has always been a very important part of his life and wherever they were stationed, they found a church home. While in Washington DC, Robert was confirmed in the Episcopal Church and a very active member of Pohick Church, Lorton, Virginia. This was George Washington’s Church near Mt. Vernon. Since returning to Georgia, Calvary Episcopal Church in Americus has been very important, and Robert and Betty were forever thankful for the friendship and care they have received.

Robert is survived by his three children, Claudia Patterson Farmer (Ed), of Myrtle Beach, SC; Robert Brewer Patterson, of Richland, GA, Julie Patterson Long (Eddie), of Suwanee, GA. His six grandchildren: Edward Merritt Farmer, Jr. (Margaret Anne) of Charleston, SC; Robert Patterson Farmer (Allison) of Charleston, SC; Robert Campbell Patterson (Sara Fagan) of Boston, MA; Elizabeth "Libby" Patterson Hertel (Ben) of Boone, NC; William Edwin Long, III of Augusta, GA and Robert Patterson Long of Suwanee, GA. His four great-grandsons: Robert "Bob" Patterson Farmer, Jr., Edward "Bear" Merritt Farmer, III, Thomas Randall Farmer and soon to arrive Charles Lane Farmer. He is also survived by his sister Fredonia Patterson Templin, sister-in-law, Mary Katherine Kendrick and brother-in-law Robert Monroe Bunker and many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins. Robert was predeceased by his beloved wife of 70 years Claudia Elizabeth “Betty” Sims Patterson, his brothers William Van Horn Patterson, John Stonie Patterson and sisters-in-law Susan Sims Dunn, Marion Sims Bunker and Pamela Greer Patterson and brother-in-law Hewlette Rhodell Dunn. The Patterson family is so grateful to Barbara Ann White for her love, care and friendship to Robert and Betty and our entire family through the years. She has maintained the house for Robert after Betty passed and kept Robert organized and spoiled him so with her wonderful cooking.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 24th at 1:00 pm at Calvary Episcopal Church in Americus, GA with Reverend Richard Nelson officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Harmony Cemetery at 3:00 pm in Richland, GA. The family invites all to a BBQ at Robert Patterson’s Renfroe Hill Farm following the burial.

In lieu of flowers - The Patterson Family is asking that donations to honor Robert are made to Calvary Episcopal Church "Building Fund" 408 S. Lee St. Americus, GA 31709 or the Air Force Enlisted Village, 92 Sunset Lane, Shalimar, FL 32579.

To sign the online guest book and share your condolences with the family, please visit aldridgefuneralservices.com. Aldridge Funeral & Cremation Services is in charge of the arrangements.