Patrick D Stockton

The Man, The Myth, The Legend

Although the man passed away September 30, 2014, the Legend lives on.

It was a dark and stormy night when he entered this world at his parents’ home in Knowles, Oklahoma on September 21, 1934. Being a dedicated student, he started attending school at the tender age of 6 months suspended from the ceiling of the one-room school house where his mother (Opal Canaday Stockton Whittaker) taught school for all grades in rural Oklahoma. His adventurous summers were spent traveling with his father (Glen Stockton), his sister (Rita Meadows) and his brother (Michael Stockton) on the race horse circuit throughout the Southwestern United States.

It is rumored his rakishly good looks attracted beauty queens from the Panhandle of Oklahoma to the towers of West Point where he attended school until 1958. The whispers abruptly ended when he married his spirited Italian Bella from Newburgh, NY, Mary Lou Hamel Stockton. The young couple decided on a nomadic lifestyle while serving a 25 year career in the US Army. Many harrowing tales of strength and bravery were recounted while Pat worked his way through Airborne Ranger training performing at the top of his class.

His four children: Mari Lynn Glidden, Wendy Warren, Pat Stockton Jr., and Jeanine Bailey were stunning examples of perfect parenting as he inspired discipline by merely raising an eyebrow from thousands of miles away while on two tours of Vietnam defending the freedoms of people all over the globe.

He and Mary Lou chose to live out their golden years in the sunny climes of Central Florida; ending his military career as a Lieutenant Colonel in the early 1980’s. One of the many honors of his military career was extending the same gifts to his son Pat Stockton and younger brother Dan Stockton when he swore them into military duty starting their path into career service.

The adventures continued while Pat managed to fight off intruding alligators, tourists and the EPA during his ownership of Pat Stockton Autos and A-1 Auto Salvage. Not to mention the tales from his travels with Mary Lou and their numerous side kick dogs in first class coach style across the United States.

Pat leaves us with strong family bonds and great friends that he helped until the last days of his life. He was known affectionately by many handles: Second Chance Guy, Moose, Good Sam, Ranger, Ji, Corvette Collector and Honey ….

And if you were wondering if “Turtle” was among them – You Bet Your Sweet Ass it was!

From all of us whose lives you touched, Thanks for a sweet ride, it’s been a blast!

Arrangements under the direction of Brevard Memorial Funeral Home, Cocoa, FL.