Obituary for John Lawrence Patten
General John L. Patten, 90, of Middletown, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at his home surrounded by family. He was born in Grand Bank, Newfoundland on November 15, 1932, the son of John B. and Blanche (Edwards) Patten and moved to New Bedford, MA with his family in 1943. John considered his citizenship to be the highest honor he ever received.
John enlisted in the US Army in 1953 and was commissioned a 2nd LT in Field Artillery in 1955 after Officer Candidate School. His assignments while in the Army included Europe, Japan, Korea and two tours in Vietnam with 101st Airborne Division. In Vietnam, he served as the Executive Officer to the U.S. Army Director of Operations and Battalion Commander, 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment. Among John’s other notable assignments were as the Director of Operations, Operations Directorate, US Army Staff, the senior Emergency Operations Officer (J3), National Emergency Airborne Command Post Officer, as Chief, Country Affairs Branch, Plans and Policy Directorate (J5), Joint Chiefs of Staff.
John’s decorations include: Master Parachutist Badge, Vietnamese Master Parachutist Badge, Army and Joint Staff Badge, medals for valor and service including Soldier’s Medal with “V” device, Air Medal for Heroism and the Legion of Merit Medal with two Oak Leaf clusters, the Pennsylvania Distinguished Service Medal and the Pennsylvania Meritorious Service Medal.
After thirty years in the US Army, John retired in 1983 and accepted the cabinet post of Director of PEMA in the Thornburgh Administration. From 1983 to 1987, he was the State Recovery and Mitigation Officer for five federally declared disasters and coordinated the transport of residual radioactive material from Three Mile Island. During the Casey Administration, John served as the Statewide Coordinator of the 911 Emergency Telephone Program. In 1995, John was appointed Pennsylvania Deputy Adjutant General for Veteran Affairs and was promoted to Brigadier General. From 1995 to 2001, he oversaw the operations of six nursing homes for Veterans, three of which were built during his tenure and encouraged the transfer, to DMVA, of the Scotland School for Veterans Children which provided domiciliary care for 360 at risk children in grades 3 to 12. John coordinated with Senator Specter to obtain Federal funding for the construction of the Veteran Affairs National Cemeteries in the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia areas. He also was instrumental in raising funds to construct the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Memorial at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
John is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Miriam “Mim”; his five sons, George B. and wife Donna, Michael S., John “Joel” L. and wife, Betsy, Steven D. and wife, Tracey and Mark E. Patten; his seventeen grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren; his sister, Susan Teixeira as well as his much loved nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 in Seven Sorrows BVM Catholic Church, 280 North Race Street, Middletown, PA with Rev. Fr. Timothy Sahd as celebrant. A visitation will be held from 5pm to 7pm, Monday, May 22, 2023 in the Matinchek Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 260 East Main Street, Middletown, PA and 10 am to 11 am, Tuesday in the Church.
Burial with Military Honors will be at 1 pm, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, Pa.
Memorial contributions may be made to John’s Church or to “Tunnel to Towers Foundation”, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306.
Visit www.matinchekfuneralhome.com to send condolences and/or view the live stream services.
John enlisted in the US Army in 1953 and was commissioned a 2nd LT in Field Artillery in 1955 after Officer Candidate School. His assignments while in the Army included Europe, Japan, Korea and two tours in Vietnam with 101st Airborne Division. In Vietnam, he served as the Executive Officer to the U.S. Army Director of Operations and Battalion Commander, 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment. Among John’s other notable assignments were as the Director of Operations, Operations Directorate, US Army Staff, the senior Emergency Operations Officer (J3), National Emergency Airborne Command Post Officer, as Chief, Country Affairs Branch, Plans and Policy Directorate (J5), Joint Chiefs of Staff.
John’s decorations include: Master Parachutist Badge, Vietnamese Master Parachutist Badge, Army and Joint Staff Badge, medals for valor and service including Soldier’s Medal with “V” device, Air Medal for Heroism and the Legion of Merit Medal with two Oak Leaf clusters, the Pennsylvania Distinguished Service Medal and the Pennsylvania Meritorious Service Medal.
After thirty years in the US Army, John retired in 1983 and accepted the cabinet post of Director of PEMA in the Thornburgh Administration. From 1983 to 1987, he was the State Recovery and Mitigation Officer for five federally declared disasters and coordinated the transport of residual radioactive material from Three Mile Island. During the Casey Administration, John served as the Statewide Coordinator of the 911 Emergency Telephone Program. In 1995, John was appointed Pennsylvania Deputy Adjutant General for Veteran Affairs and was promoted to Brigadier General. From 1995 to 2001, he oversaw the operations of six nursing homes for Veterans, three of which were built during his tenure and encouraged the transfer, to DMVA, of the Scotland School for Veterans Children which provided domiciliary care for 360 at risk children in grades 3 to 12. John coordinated with Senator Specter to obtain Federal funding for the construction of the Veteran Affairs National Cemeteries in the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia areas. He also was instrumental in raising funds to construct the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Memorial at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
John is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Miriam “Mim”; his five sons, George B. and wife Donna, Michael S., John “Joel” L. and wife, Betsy, Steven D. and wife, Tracey and Mark E. Patten; his seventeen grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren; his sister, Susan Teixeira as well as his much loved nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 in Seven Sorrows BVM Catholic Church, 280 North Race Street, Middletown, PA with Rev. Fr. Timothy Sahd as celebrant. A visitation will be held from 5pm to 7pm, Monday, May 22, 2023 in the Matinchek Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 260 East Main Street, Middletown, PA and 10 am to 11 am, Tuesday in the Church.
Burial with Military Honors will be at 1 pm, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, Pa.
Memorial contributions may be made to John’s Church or to “Tunnel to Towers Foundation”, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306.
Visit www.matinchekfuneralhome.com to send condolences and/or view the live stream services.