Capt. George Patch

Captain Irwin Patch Jr. USN (Ret.) died 24 March 2022. George was born 6 August 1926 in Marysville, Ohio, to Captain Irwin George Patch and Mary Jane Low Patch. In 1943, he graduated early from Wellston High School's Class of 1944 to join the Navy. He served in Night Torpedo Squadrons flying from SARATOGA (CV-3) and ENTERPRISE (CV-6) in the Pacific. He was one of the Navy's first airborne electronic countermeasures operators performing such duties during the carrier raids on Tokyo in February 1945. He was senior aviation radioman in Night Development Squadron, Atlantic Fleet when ordered to the Naval Academy Preparatory School. He graduated from Annapolis with the Class of 1951.

After a year aboard USS CABOT (CVL-28) he was ordered to Pensacola for flight training. In 1953, he was designated a Naval Aviator. He served sea duty tours with three carrier-based squadrons and a Carrier Division Staff accumulating 963 carrier arrested landings, including more than 500 night landings. In 1969, George reported as Air Officer, USS HORNET (CVS-12) where he participated in Apollo 11 and 12 recoveries. His final sea tour was as Chief of Staff, Fleet Training Group, Guantanamo.

Captain Patch attended the Naval War College, the University of Southern California, and George Washington University. He served as Assistant Flight Training Officer, NAS Los Alamitos; at the Naval Academy; Bureau of Naval Personnel; and Navy Department. His final tour ashore was at the Office of

the Secretary of the Navy as Deputy Director, Naval Council of Personnel Boards and President, Navy/Marine Corps Physical Evaluation Board.

Among his awards and decorations were the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star with Combat "V," Air Medals, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and Navy Good Conduct Medal. Retiring from the Navy in January 1982, George became a Wellston Telegram columnist for 15 years. He was inducted into Wellston High School's Wall of Achievement in 2009.

Captain Patch is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Navy Nurse Jane Green of Colleyville, TX; daughter, Eleanor Jane Brigham; son, Irwin George Patch; and granddaughters, Katherine Anne Brigham, and Caroline Jane Brigham.

A visitation for George will be held Tuesday, March 29, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home, 5725 Colleyville Blvd, Colleyville, Texas 76034. A Celebration of Life and Witness to the Resurrection will occur Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 3:00 PM, 5725 Colleyville Blvd, Colleyville, Texas 76034. A Committal Service will take place at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.