Eldon Lee Patterson

Eldon attended Wichita Falls High School where he was a proud member of the Rowdies and Coyote football teams in the early 1950’s. He was an animated storyteller with an excellent memory, and many of his stories began with the phrase “When I played for the Coyotes…” Eldon moved to Henrietta for his Senior year of high school. It was during this year that he met the love of his life, Dorothy Johnson. Eldon and Dorothy were married December 28,1955, after he returned from from serving in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He was always happy to tell anyone he met that he and Dorothy were married for 67 years.

Eldon was passionate about lifelong learning. He was an avid reader and was always reading or studying something. He received both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from Midwestern State University. Eldon was a career public educator, who began his teaching career at Hirschi Junior High in 1962, the first year it opened. He taught there for 8 years before moving his family to Iowa Park in 1970. Eldon, always the educator, wore many hats during his 32 year career at Iowa Park CISD. In 2002, after 40 years combined in public education, he retired from Iowa Park High School.

Eldon truly had a heart for young people, always encouraging them and believed most people just needed someone who would listen to them. He also NEVER forgot his students, even after being retired for 20 years! Many of his former students and people around town knew him not only as Mr. Patterson, but also as “Idee” (what his grandkids called him!) because when the family called him by that name, his school and church families followed suit!

Eldon’s true love was for his family. He was happiest when his home was full of his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the newest family member, his first great-great-granddaughter. Eldon was also a devout Christian who read his Bible daily. He was a faithful member of the Church of Christ, and volunteered regularly until his health made it no longer possible.

In addition to his parents, Eldon was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy Patterson, his daughter, Donna Lee Williams, and his two brothers, J.W. And Alec Patterson.

Eldon is survived by his daughter, Deanne Schram and husband Randall of Iowa Park; granddaughters Mistie Huff and husband Jeff of Holliday, TX; Nikki Green and husband Gary of Weatherford, Tx; grandson, John Schram and wife Sarah of Coppell; his great-grandchildren, Emma Huff, Grant Huff, Andrew Huff, Jackson Huff, Julie Green, Trent Green, Avery Schram, Evan Schram; his great-great-grandchild, Ella Jane Campbell and a host of beloved nieces and nephews.

The family extends a special thank you to the nurses and caregivers at Healing Hands Hospice and other providers at Healing Hands. Thank you also to our caregivers from Visiting Angels

Visitation will be held at Dutton Funeral Home, 300 East Cash Street, Iowa Park, TX 76367, on March 3, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

A funeral service will take place at Church of Christ of Iowa Park, 300 E Park Ave, Iowa Park, TX 76367, on March 4, 2026, at 2:00 pm.