Denolda Reynolds Patten

Denolda Reynolds Patten, age 93, formerly of Graham, N.C., died May 20, 2013, at the Well Spring Retirement Center. Denolda was born October 22, 1919, in Jacksonville, Texas, to Dexter Floyd Reynolds and Mary Ann Trantham Reynolds. She grew up in Texas, attended Lon Morris Methodist Junior College, and graduated from Tyler Commercial Secretarial School, Tyler, Texas. Denolda met Lt. Allen J. Patten, U.S. Army, while both were working at the War Department in Washington, DC. They married in 1942 just before he was sent to England with the Signal Corps to join the secret Enigma project. After Allen returned from his service overseas, they moved to North Carolina, eventually settling in Graham, N.C. where they raised their family. They were married 50 years until Allen's death in 1992. Denolda moved to Well Spring Retirement Center in Greensboro, NC in 1998.

Denolda is survived by her three children, Judy Patten Broom (Knox) of Greensboro NC, Marian Reynolds Patten of Asheville N.C., and Edward Allen Patten of Fredericksburg, VA, two grandchildren, Hal Lee McAdams, Ill, (Rosalia), Emily McAdams Scott (Rick), all of Greensboro, NC, two step-granddaughters Lynn Broom Peraldo, also of Greensboro, NC, Shea Broom Pitlik (Mike) of Lake Forrest, CA, one great-grandson, three step-great-grandsons and three step-great-granddaughters. She is also survived by her sister Mary Floyd Johnson of Jacksonville, TX and numerous nieces and nephews. Along with her husband and parents, Denolda was preceded in death by her sister, Cleta Reynolds Thompson of Beaumont, TX.

Denolda received an Honorary Life Membership, Women of the Church, at Graham Presbyterian Church in 1987 where she attended for many years. She also served as the first woman Democratic Precinct Chair in Alamance County and was a former chair of Alamance Mental Health Board. She was an active parent in the Graham School system while her children attended and worked as a substitute teacher after that. Denolda treasured her many loyal friendships through the years and could ask for nothing more than that.

The family thanks the staff at Well Spring for the years of kindness they demonstrated with Denolda and for their dedicated professionalism. There will be a private graveside service for family at Alamance Memorial Park and a memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, 2013, at Wellspring Richardson's Auditorium in, 4100 Well Spring Dr., Greensboro, NC 27410. The Reverend Lou East will preside.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, 2500 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27405 or the Graham Presbyterian Church, 216 W. Harden St. Graham, NC 27253.