Retired Master Sergeant Patrick Francis Rishor

Patrick Francis Rishor, 88, of Jeffersonville, Indiana passed away February 12, 2025. He was born on September 12, 1936, in Fort Peck, Montana to the late Earl and Josephine, the fourth of seven children. He was a graduate of elementary school in Elk Creek, Idaho and high school in Kellogg, Idaho. Patrick served in the United States Army from September 1953 until his retirement in September 1980 as a US Army Recruiting Commander. He was Army Recruiter of the Year. He spent a total of 32 years in the Army during which time he recognized the value of education and achieved a degree in Business. He loved the Army and worked his way up through the ranks before retiring as a Master Sargent. After his retirement from the United States Army, he became a JROTC Instructor with Bullitt Central High School in Shepherdsville, Kentucky from 1981-1997. While at Bullitt Central, he and his students won the National JROTC Drill Team Competition in 1988. Due to his influence and obvious love for them, his cadets received many honors, awards, and scholarships, including four cadets being accepted to West Point. Patrick was an especially honorable individual as indicated by his many actions.

Patrick thoroughly enjoyed golfing, traveling, researching family history and spending time with his extended family of nieces and nephews. Patrick was also the family historian and spent many hours researching his ancestry. He was very proud that he was able to research and compile all the battles his father was involved in during WWI. Patrick was able to secure a copy of his father’s enlistment and deployment documents to France from where Patrick’s grandfather emigrated in the 1800’s.

He had a principal bully him in his high school. He told him he would never amount to anything, but Pat did in-turn amount to a whole lot. He loved seeing kid succeed by giving them people skill and showed them discipline that a lot of them lacked. Many, many kids made something of their lives and one of the biggest factors was how Pat cared for them.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his first wife of 46 years, Thelma Rishor of Brooks, Kentucky; and his brothers Richard Dennis, Robert James (Jim) Rishor, Jerry Paul Rishor, Michael Rishor

Pat is survived by his devoted wife, Shirley White Rishor of 12 years; two sisters, Donna Mae Lasater of Ryegate, Montana and Cynthia Joyce Rishor Frazier of Clarksville, Tennessee and 13 nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Patrick will be held Monday, February 17, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM at Kraft Funeral Service, 2776 Charlestown Rd, New Albany, Indiana 47150. Following the visitation will be a funeral service at 3:30 PM. Patrick will be buried in the military section of the Greenwood Cemetery where will be placed very near three of his brothers and just across the creek from his parents and a brother who died as a child.