William A. Bill Patterson, age 89, passed away Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at West View Healthy Living with his family at his side.
A service to celebrate his life’s journey will be held at Central Christian Church, Wooster on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Glen Schory officiating. Thereafter, private burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Lima, Ohio. Friends may call on Tuesday, June 1, 2021 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster or at the church, one hour before the service.
Preceding him in death were his parents, and infant brothers James and Robert. He is survived by his wife, Letitia Lee, sons David (Jennifer) of Wooster, Gregory (Sharon) of Delaware, OH, and Todd (Renee) of Wooster, step-sons Craig (Shelly) Benson of Bellbrook, OH, Keith (Kim) Benson of Washington, Utah and step-daughter Joy (Fernando Galindo) Benson of Wooster, 6 grandchildren, 8 step grandchildren, 4 greatgrandchildren, and his former wife, Jane Patterson.
Bill was born July 8,1931, to Robert G. and Ruth A. (Hanley) Patterson in Lima, Ohio. He graduated in 1949 from Lima Central High School, where he was a three-sport athlete. He played on the undefeated state championship football team of 1946 and was honored by the induction of he and his teammates into the Lima City Schools Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019. After high school, Bill attended Findlay College where he played football and wrestled. He graduated with a degree in education from Ohio Northern University in 1955, where he was a member of the ONU football team.
Bill’s life was one of service to others. He started his 25-year career with the YMCA as Assistant, and then Physical Director in Lima, then furthered his career with YMCAs in Canton and Reading, PA. In 1965, he became the second Executive Director of the Wooster YMCA, where he served members and community youth for six years. In 1971, he moved on to be Executive Director of the Y Community Center in Neenah, WI and retiredfrom YMCA service in 1980 at the Y in Marion, Ohio.
Upon retirement, he returned to Wooster and was employed in the Men s Clothing Department of the H. Freedlander Company. He also served as a realtor with Real Estate Showcase.
Bill was elected to public office and served from 1981 to 1997 as a City Councilman and Council President. He served an unfinished term as Mayor of Wooster in 1995 & 96. He chaired the Wooster Community Hospital Board of Governors. When the hospital board was associated with Quorom Hospital Management Company, and provided leadership in hiring William Sheron as Hospital Administrator. Bill was pleased with his role in accomplishing the great advancement of our community hospital. Upon retiring as Mayor, Bill was honored by the Ohio Senate and House of Representatives with resolutions of commendation for community service and received the Jack O’Donnell Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Award in 1996.
In addition to YMCA and City Council service, he served on the Board of Education in Neenah. WI, was a 60-year member of Rotary International, a Deacon at Christian Churches in Wooster and Fort Myers, FL and on the Advisory Board at Boys’ Village. now The Village Network.
He was a member of the Ohio-West Virginia Chapter & National Association of Retired YMCA Directors and the Wayne County Junior Achievement Board. He was honored to receive the Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship Award.
At Ohio Northern University, he was a member of the ONU Solomon Lehr Society, the ONU Heritage Society, a Life Member of the ONU N Men Alumni and the ONU Polar Bear Club. He was affiliated with the Gamma Alpha Chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi National Fraternity and served as a Trustee of the Triangular Alumni Association. He was instrumental in leading the effort to reestablish and renovate the Alpha Sigma PhiFraternity house on the ONU campus.
In 2005, he established, with the Wayne County Community Foundation, a scholarship for a Wooster High School senior enrolling at Ohio Northern University. To date, (15) students have been awarded tuition assistance from the scholarship and will continue after his passing.
Bill requested that in lieu of flowers, he would be honored to be remembered through contributions to his scholarship fund at Wayne County Community Foundation, 517 North Market St, Wooster, OH 44691.
Bill will be fondly remembered by many in Wooster, whose lives he touched.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com.
Memorial Contributions
Bill requested that in lieu of flowers, he would be honored to be remembered through contributions to his scholarship fund at Wayne County Community Foundation, 517 North Market St, Wooster, OH 44691.
Service
Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. at Central Christian Church
Visitation
Tuesday June 1, 20121 from 6-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home and 1 hour prior to the service at church
I have alot of good memories of Bill at the Wooster Y.Sorry to here of his passing,
Bill was a kind wonderful man. His smile and laugh were infectious.
Bill, you were a kind, wonderful man, always thoughtful. Your smile and laugh were infectious. We know you are shining from above.
I am so sorry for your loss. He was such a kind and accomplished person.
Peace and strength to all family at this time of sorrow.
So sorry for your loss Lee. Prayers to you and the rest of your family.
Todd and Family, I’m so sorry for your loss. I remember your dad fondly from the Y.
Dear Lee and Family,
What a guy!! Bill accomplished so much in his life to help others.
Both Don and I are so happy to have known Bill and so happy he sold us his home in Indian Creek.
Lee and family we are sorry for your loss. He truly was a servant. Deb and Terry Miller, Sandy Tegtmeier Behlau
My family, Don and Yvonne Morris enjoyed getting to know Bill during his tenure at the Wooster YMCA. I appreciated his leadership and enthusiasm during a YMCA student trip to England with Bill and his son Greg and 7 other students back in the 1970’s. His laugh and enthusiasm were infectious. He will be missed, hugs and prayers to his family.
Please accept my condolences at this time of Bill’s passing.
We first met when Bill was in retail and I’m sure that Made some unneeded purchases because I wanted to stop and see Bill.
We later worked together for a number of years in City government. Bill was an accomplished legislator and manager and I learned a lot from him.
Bill was a good guy – smart, clever, with a wry sense of humor. We shared a lot of chuckles in our work.
He will be missed. His big grin and jovial greeting always made it great to see him again.
Dearest Lee, I’m so sad to hear if your loss. Do hope Dr Smash and Dr Dink are having a heavenly tennis game! Thoughts and prayers ….Sue
Bill hired me to work at the Y Community Center in Neenah, WI when I was a 22-year-old newlywed in 1974. I’m still married to the same man and a retired person now, and simply want to express my sympathy to his family and assure them that someone from Neenah remembers Bill’s time here.