George Ronald Patton

George Ronald Patton passed away peacefully on January 5, 2025 at Embrace Hospice Center in Myrtle Beach with his wife, Judith Wood Patton, at his side. Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd Fleming Patton and Sarah Mae Burgess Patton. He is survived by his wife, Judith and his son, Adam B. Patton (Jenifer) and grandchildren: Savanah, Cosette, Joseph, Penelopy and Amelia. Also surviving is his beloved sister, Denise P. Spence (Tony), his nephews, cousins, and godchildren.

Born in Oklahoma, while his father was stationed at Vance Air Force Base, the family moved to Halifax, NC when Ron was one year old. He grew up in Halifax UMC where he was loved and nurtured in his faith.

After graduation from high school, Ron attended North Carolina State University majoring in Textile Technology with a minor in Religion through Meredith College. Feeling a call to ministry, Ron attended Southeastern Theological Seminary in Wake Forest and served four churches in Eastern North Carolina on the Seaboard Charge. After completing seminary, he moved to LaGrange, NC and served Bethel UMC and Jerusalem UMC. During this time, he joined the North Carolina National Guard and served twenty years as a Chaplain retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Ron served overseas during Enduring Freedom as the Chaplain in Charge of providing spiritual and moral support for over 4000 soldiers and received the Army Meritorious Service Award. Ron also served Bethesda UMC in Durham, City Road UMC in Henderson, NC, Allensville UMC in Roxboro, NC and Trinity UMC in Oxford, NC, Creedmoor UMC in Creedmoor, NC and Benson UMC in Benson, NC.

Ron retired in 2015 after serving thirty-nine years as a United Methodist Minister in the North Carolina Conference. Ron also served on the Conference Board of Higher Education, and six years as the Disaster Preparedness Coordinator. Ron’s service to others included serving as a Chaplain at Duke Hospital while obtaining a certificate from the School of Allied Health at Duke University in Clinical Pastoral Education, several years as the Campus Minister for the Wesley Fellowship at Duke University, over twenty years as a volunteer firefighter and several years as the Chaplain for North Carolina Highway Patrol in Benson. Ron firmly believed that his role was to bring Christ’s hope, love and salvation to people he served.

Ron was a lifelong NC State “Wolfpack” fan and would tell this Duke students that he would pull for Duke unless they were playing State. He enjoyed boating, fishing, hunting and entertaining friends and family at the lake. With a love for anything mechanical, Ron’s favorite project was a red 1965 Mustang. In 2017, after many years of vacationing at Myrtle Beach, Ron and Judy decided to move to the beach and bought a home in North Myrtle Beach in 2017.

A memorial service is planned in the Life Center at Little River United Methodist Church on Sunday, January 19 at 3:00 pm. with visitation afterwards. Memorials may be made to Little River UMC, 1629 US 17 (PO Box 160), Little River, NC 29566