Past Exalted Ruler of the Gilroy Elks Lodge
Russell E. Patterson died Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2002 at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital in Salinas. He was 72.
Mr. Patterson was born in Lyndhurst, N.J. to Florence and Martin Patterson. After marrying Bette, he and his family moved to California in 1963 to pursue a career in the insurance business. He retired 30 years later and began a second career as a salesman with Overhead Door Co. of Salinas.
He was a dedicated member of the Gilroy Elks Lodge No. 1567, where he served two terms as Exalted Ruler.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth “Bette” Patterson; his children and their spouses, Russell Jr. and Judy Patterson of Scotts Valley, Kim and John Gylis of Olympia, Wash., Lynn and Larry Orlando of Gilroy and Kyle Patterson of Hollister; his brother, Kenneth Patterson of Effort, Pa.; five grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, Oct. 26 at 3 p.m. at Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home.
Memorials are preferrred to the Gilroy Elks Crippled Children’s Fund, Gilroy Elks Lodge No. 1567, P.O. Box 488, Gilroy, CA 95021.
