Lewis Patterson "Pat" Thatcher Jr.

A native of this city, he was born May 7, 1930, to Lewis P. Thatcher and Cynthia Dorris Thatcher and was raised on Signal Mountain. He had twin siblings, David Thatcher, of Pensacola, and Dorris Thatcher Dodge who is deceased.

He graduated from Chattanooga High School and from the University of Chattanooga, where he was president of Sigma Chi Fraternity and a member of Blue Key. In July that year he joined the U.S. Army and was graduated from Officers Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He served in Germany and was discharged with the rank of 1st Lieut. in 1957.

That same year, Pat joined the training program at American National Bank and Trust Company, now SunTrust Bank, where he was promoted to vice-president and spent most of his almost 40 years until his retirement. He is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking in Rutgers, N.J. and was an active member of the American Institute of Banking. He was president when that group held its annual convention in Chattanooga.

Pat was made a lifetime member of the American Heart Association after many years as treasurer and then president. He was a director of Citizens Savings and Loan, a long-time member of downtown Kiwanis Club, and a board member of Chattanooga Convention and Business Bureau, as well as UTC Alumni board. He was a charter member of the Signal Mountain Sportsmen Association and a member Chattanooga’s Half Century Club. Pat is a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he has served as a deacon for many years and was president of the Layman's Club.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Carolyn Del Wood Thatcher. They married on Feb. 15, 1958 at First Presbyterian Church. He is also survived by 3 children- Catherine Traver, and husband Doug and their 2 sons Douglas and Jay, all of Knoxville; Elizabeth Bryant and husband Mark and daughter Catherine all of Signal Mountain; and son Lewis D. Thatcher, also of Signal Mountain.

Pat's love of the outdoors took his family with him hiking, hunting, fishing, and skeet and trap shooting. One of his favorite pastimes was hunting and following the Tennessee Vols.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 pm on Friday, July 14, at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home.

A Celebration of Life Service for Pat will be held at 11:30 am on Saturday, at the North Chapel with Pastor Chris Ehlers officiating. Burial will be in Chattanooga Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Pat’s name to the American Heart Association, 519 E. 4th Street, Chattanooga, TN 37403, www.heart.org, or First Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga, 554 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37402, www.fpcchatt.org, or to your favorite charity.

Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN.