Reverend Charles Alva Patchen

Charles Patchen, or “Charlie”, as most people called him, was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Clarence A. and Sylvia B. Patchen on January 8, 1934. He grew up in Midwest City, Oklahoma with his parents and younger brother, Gary through his high-school years. Charlie was a curious, busy, hard-working, happy-go-lucky, kid and teenager, who loved sports, music, dancing, and the performing arts. He knew early in his life he wanted to become a pastor, especially after experiencing the horror and hardships of WWII. He believed Jesus was the answer to help people rise above hate, suffering, and destruction. Charlie was baptized by his grandfather, the Reverend Clinton M. Thomas, in July of 1945 at the age of 11. He dedicated his life to full-time Christian service and foreign missions on August 1, 1948 at the age of 14. In high school, Charlie played the tight-end position on the Midwest City football team and lettered in his senior year. He was also a leader in student government, speech, and drama.

After graduating from high school, Charlie went on to attend Phillips University College of the Bible in Enid, Oklahoma. He was an active leader, eagerly involved in both campus and church life. He was also known to be quite a dancer and voted most likely to succeed by his peers. He met his beautiful bride, Emily Ann Jones, while attending Phillips University; and following a time of friendship and courtship, they were married on June 2, 1957 at University Place Christian Church in Enid, Oklahoma. Thus began their journey together as man and wife. After graduating from Phillips University in 1958, Charlie went on to attend Brite Divinity School at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas and graduated in 1961. He was ordained at the First Christian Church of Midwest City, Oklahoma on June 4, 1961. One month later he began his ministry in Alamosa, Colorado with his wife Emily and their young son, Brett. Their daughter Kimberly and second son, Charles (Chuck), joined the family in October of 1961 and 1962.

Charlie and family moved three years later to Fort Collins, Colorado when he was hired to be the new minister at the First Christian Church in downtown Fort Collins. The Lord richly blessed Charlie’s pastorate there and soon the congregation had outgrown their building and parking. Under Charlie’s leadership, the church board, and a talented architect named Don Patton built a larger, modern church at Stover and Drake Road in Fort Collins. The church flourished in its new location under the influence, power, and work of the Holy Spirit and the talented ministry staff the Lord brought together. During this time, Pastor Charlie’s ministry opportunities expanded outside the city of Fort Collins. He was invited to preach, teach, and disciple other congregations. He conducted weddings, funerals, ordinations, baptisms, and other ministerial duties throughout Colorado and out of state. His travels took him to Wyoming, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois, Nebraska, Idaho, Montana, California; even to Australia, leading a group of Disciple of Christ Christian Church people to The International Christian Church Convention in 1970. Then amazingly, the day before Charlie was scheduled to leave for Australia, he and Emily welcomed their fourth child, Joel, into the family. Needless to say, the 70’s were a very special and busy time in the life and ministry of Charles Patchen.

As the church flourished under the influence and work of the Holy Spirit, yet another facility was required to meet the needs of the growing congregation in Fort Collins. As a result, the First Christian Church board and Don Patton were called upon a second time to design a facility to meet the growing needs of the congregation and community. Knowing this new church expansion would demand a lot from their head pastor, Charlie was granted a year’s sabbatical leave to California with his family to attend Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. The sabbatical gave him the opportunity to rest and renew, to pursue his studies, to gain new insights, and to take on new adventures! Those adventures included, learning to sail, navigating the California freeways, managing family life with three teenagers attending two different schools, Emily teaching part-time, and keeping up with a kindergartner! The sabbatical also opened the door of opportunity to hear many great and gifted pastors in prominent churches in California. Charlie had more time to read inspiring books, and even time to enjoy the beauty of the California coastline with his family. God truly used the sabbatical leave to further equip, inspire, encourage, and fine-tune, Charlie for the next chapter evolving in Fort Collins. There, the wonderful staff of associate ministers and lay people were carrying the torch; preaching, teaching, and discipling the church body, while maintaining and managing the building campaign for the big construction project ahead.

It was on his sabbatical leave that Charlie was given a clear vision concerning the next church construction plan and its mission. The name “The Healing Place,” was clearly impressed upon his heart. The church would be called “The Healing Place” a place where inspiration, rest, and the love of God would lift men’s hearts and save their souls.” In time, “The Healing Place” became a well-recognized landmark at Drake Road and Lemay Avenue. Reverend Charlie Patchen pastored there for several years; preaching and teaching the gospel, providing Christian education, youth ministry, counseling, Christian conferences and community outreach programs. He ministered throughout the northern Colorado region wherever the Lord opened the door for him to speak.

Two locations where Reverend Charlie loved to preach were in the Colorado mountains. He treasured the memories of stays at Red Feather Chapel and meals with Red Feather church members, fishing, hiking, and picnics. He also loved the one-of-a-kind Arrowhead Lodge in the Poudre Canyon owned and operated by Stan and Lola Case. He’d go there whenever he preached at The Chapel in the Pines. He loved the home-cooked meals, those strawberry rhubarb pies, the smiles, the laughter, and all the fun to be had in this beautiful setting nestled among the ponderosa pines with the Poudre River flowing by.

Reverend Charlie retired in June of 1994. The Healing Place was, by then, a well-established church. Charlie and Emily filled their retirement years with family, travel, and grandchildren, ultimately welcoming 13 new Patchens. In 2003 they decided to leave their home of nearly 40 years on Killdeer Drive for a lovely new home in Windsor, CO where they could sit out on the back patio and take in the panorama of the Front Range.

Charlie graduated from a metal fishing boat to a 26-foot sailboat during his retirement years. His new boat was called “The Night Wind,” which he enjoyed sailing on Boyd Lake, Carter Lake, and Horsetooth Reservoir. He loved to take family, friends, neighbors, even strangers out sailing with him. Charlie even took, “The Night Wind,” to Oklahoma to take his father-in-law and Oklahoma relatives sailing.

Charlie and Emily enjoyed worship at several churches in the Windsor area. They treasured the times they could visit Charlie’s “Timothies”, young pastors he had mentored over the years to become successful ministers serving their own congregations. He still occasionally preached in the Front Range area and also continued to travel for speaking engagements elsewhere. Then surprisingly, in January of 2011, Charlie felt called to return to full-time ministry. He was older now; yet the Lord made it possible for him to purchase his former church at 608 E. Drake Rd. in Fort Collins. The church was named “Drake Road Christian Church” and began holding services in June of 2012. Due to God’s amazing grace, Charlie began preaching about the joy of the Lord and salvation through Jesus Christ again. He preached and ministered there for five more years before finally retiring at the age of 83.

Unfortunately, Charlie started to experience increasing health problems as he progressed through his 80’s, but he dealt with those challenges with grace and humility. He still tried to remain as active as he could and spent a great deal of his time with family, maintaining a positive attitude. In his final years, he and Emily moved to Colorado Springs where they could be cared for by his youngest son, Joel, his wife, Michelle, and their children.

Through it all, Charlie Patchen loved life and lived it to the fullest with an adventurous heart, big smile, and a great laugh. He was often heard whistling and singing, always sporting an optimistic outlook with his cheery sense of humor. He greatly enjoyed spending family vacations in the beautiful Colorado Mountains. He loved skiing, fly-fishing, back packing, hiking, and camping. He also loved to water ski with Emily’s parents, Everett & Mable Jones and visiting with his brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Jennifer, during family vacations in Oklahoma. Charlie was a big fan of John Elway, the Denver Broncos and the Oklahoma Sooners! He delighted in singing, "The Boomer Sooner Song," in church, following any victory over Nebraska, directing his humor at his Nebraska parishioners, or anyone who loved Nebraska football. Charlie also developed some enjoyable hobbies over the years. He loved photography, learning about computers, tying his own flies for fishing, and sewing here and there. He was quite proud of designing and sewing his own custom fly-fishing vest!

Many will remember his bold and unique voice in the pulpit and on the radio, his genuine concern for people in need, his presence in the communities where he lived, and his desire to improve the quality of life for all. Fewer may know that he would periodically ride with the police in Alamosa and Fort Collins to minister to the distressed, and that he served in Kiwanis and on the Ministerial Alliance in Fort Collins. He baptized generations of believers, spoke many times for the Poudre R-1 School District at commencements, baccalaureates, weddings and funerals. He counseled administrators, teachers, students and their families. Revered Charlie tried his best to be there for people giving them hope and encouragement. Charlie also supported Christian missions abroad. In his retirement he gave generously to help build churches, schools, and a medical clinic in Africa. He also supported seminary and medical students in Thailand and local pregnancy resource centers. Charlie was a treasured pastor, teacher, friend, confidant, son, sibling, husband, father, son-in-law, brother-in-law, grandfather, uncle, and neighbor. In life, Charlie sought to better himself, his community, and those around him, and most importantly, point the way to Jesus, his Lord and Savior. He will be sincerely missed by all who knew and loved him.

Charles is survived by his wife of 67 years, Emily Patchen, and their four children and spouses. Brett and Da Patchen of Boise, Idaho. Kim and Dennis Black of Taylors, SC. Chuck and Susan Patchen of Fort Collins, CO. and Joel and Michelle Patchen of Colorado Springs, CO. Charles leaves behind 12 grandchildren, a brother-in-law, Charles Jones of Enid, Oklahoma, a sister-in-law, Jennifer Jones of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, aunt, Jan K. Allard of Lincoln, Nebraska, along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Sylvia Patchen, his only brother, Gary Dean Patchen, and his infant granddaughter, Brooke Anna- Vaughn Patchen. What a joyous reunion of family and friends awaits him in heaven!

A Celebration of Life service to honor Charles Patchen will be held at the Clearwater Church in Fort Collins on Saturday, October 5th at 10:30AM. Doors will open at 10AM. Donations in honor of Charlie will also be accepted after the service to help support the missions and ministries he supported during his life. Please make out any donation check to: Schwab Charitable. On the memo line, include Charles Patchen's name.

Video Streaming: For those who are unable to attend in person on Saturday, October 5th at 10:30AM, the Celebration of Life service will be streamed live on: the Clearwater Church of Fort Collins YouTube channel.