Florence Fitch Patton

Florence Fitch Patton, Mrs. Elbert Branch Patton, lived a life as rich and storied as the history she spent decades preserving. Born on January 6, 1932, in Eagle Pass to William Hollis Fitch and Mary South Summers, Florence passed away peacefully on January 7, 2026, just one day after celebrating her 94th birthday. Though her early years took her from the halls of Saint Mary’s Hall in San Antonio to Sweet Briar College in Virginia and finally to the University of Texas at Austin—where she was a proud member of Pi Beta Phi and Pi Lambda Theta—her heart was always tied to Nacogdoches. Her maternal family had called that area home since the 1830s, and it was there, beginning in 1961, that she and her husband, Branch, chose to raise their family and build a lasting legacy.

Florence’s professional life was a testament to her belief in the power of knowledge. For twenty years, she shaped the lives of countless children as an elementary teacher and principal, serving at Christ Episcopal School and as the founding principal of Fredonia Hill Baptist Academy. Even outside the classroom, her influence as an educator was felt; she authored a treatise on free enterprise titled Life, Liberty, the Pursuit of Happiness—Source of The American Dream, which became a vital resource for teacher workshops across the state. In other areas of her professional life, she worked alongside her husband as the bookkeeper for his hardware business.

Perhaps Florence’s most enduring gift was her tireless work in historic preservation. She didn't just study history; she made it accessible to everyone. In 1984, she coordinated the Nacogdoches exhibit of the Lincoln Cathedral Exemplar of the Magna Carta, an achievement that brought thousands to East Texas and earned her the Stephen F. Austin State University Lumberjack Award. Her commitment to the local landscape was unmatched—she spent twenty-four years leading the Sterne-Hoya House Museum, where she authored the docent guides and self-guided tours that still educate visitors today. She was the driving force behind the narrative historical plaques found on downtown buildings and the “Los Ojos de Padre Margil” marker on Lanana Creek, ensuring that the stories of the past remained part of the city’s modern conversation.

Her leadership extended to the state and national levels through her deep involvement with the Daughters of the American Revolution. As Texas DAR State Regent, Florence spearheaded the monumental task of relocating 123 granite markers along the El Camino Real trail, stretching from the Rio Grande to the Sabine River. She served as National Executive Corresponding Secretary General of the NSDAR and as a Trustee for DAR schools in Alabama and South Carolina. In recognition of a life dedicated to patriotic education and the preservation of the American spirit, Florence received the Women in American History Award in 2023.

Florence’s civic footprint was vast, touching almost every corner of Nacogdoches life. She served as a Trustee on the Nacogdoches Independent School District Board, helped establish the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau, and was a dedicated member of the Nacogdoches County Historical Commission and the Juvenile Justice Commission. Her business acumen was shared with the boards of The Fredonia Hotel and The Nacogdoches Club for over two decades. She also held leadership roles in The National Society Colonial Dames of America and the Magna Carta Dames, and she was a member of The Daughters of the Republic of Texas. In recognition of a lifetime of service, she was honored as an inductee into the Nacogdoches Heritage Hall of Fame in 2010.

At the center of everything was Florence’s unwavering faith. As a lifetime member of the Episcopal Church, she served Christ Church in Nacogdoches in many roles—as a Vestry member, Sunday School teacher, and a twenty-year member of the Altar Guild. While her accomplishments were many, her greatest joy was her family. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Branch Patton. She is survived by her children, John Patton, Allyson Patton Cavender (and her late husband Stuart), and Lee Patton Jones (David); her stepsons Reagan Patton and Campbell Patton (Lindy); and a beautiful legacy of grandchildren and great-grandchildren who brought her immense pleasure in her later years.

Friends and family are invited to a visitation from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Friday, January 16th, at Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors. Services will be held at Christ Episcopal Church on January 17th at 1:00 p.m., followed by interment at Oak Grove Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be made to Christ Episcopal Church or a charity of your choice.

Services are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors.