Finis Stephen Patton Jr.

Finis Stephen "Pat" Patton Jr., age 90, of Knoxville, passed away on Tuesday, December 30, 2014. Pat truly represented America's greatest generation. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee and was preceded in death by his parents, Finis Stephan Patton and Elizabeth Coleman Patton, and his sister Jean Patton Tucker. Pat proudly served his country in World War II, from "Normandy to Nuemburg," including the battles of Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes (Battle of the Buldge), Rhineland, Central Europe, and Nuremburg. Pat was a member of the Signal Air Warning Brigade and was the last surviving member of the 1000 member group. His fighting company was awarded the Ground Combat Battle Star twice, and were also the recipients of six Battle Stars. On September 28, 2002, the surviving members of Pat's SAW Brigade received Diplome's from the French Minister of Defense for the 1945 liberation of Paris, at a SAW reunion. Pat received his BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Mississippi and his MS in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana State University. His working career began in 1950 at Union Carbide Corporation in Oak Ridge, TN, where he was a registered professional engineer. Pat held many job titles over the years as his career advanced to Director of Engineering. He is the author of a book titled, Enriched Uranium Processing. This book, published in 1963, has been translated into several languages, and remains in the libraries of over 20 American universities, and is considered authoritative. Pat was a United States Delegate to the 1958 Geneva Peace Convention in Geneva, Switzerland, where he delivered a paper on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. While there, he climbed the Matterhorn. He worked on the hydrogen bomb during the Cold War, and the design of the first nuclear submarine. Pat was a monthly lecturer for the Brookings Institute in Washington, DC and the United States Government Executive Training Organization from 1981-1988. Pat assisted President Ronald Reagan's transition team as an adviser on energy issues. In his 50 years as a public speaker, Pat gave over 500 speeches on nuclear energy. His many achievements and awards include (1976) Tennessee Professional Engineer of the Year, (1978) National Chairman of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, (1981-1983) National Chairman National Society of Professional Engineers Energy Committee, (1984-1985) National Chairman of Inter-Engineering Society Coordinating Committee on Energy, (1987) Engineer of Distinction from the University of Mississippi, and (1987) American Society of Engineering Management National Engineering Manager of the Year. Pat was an active member of Church Street United Methodist Church for over 30 years, serving on the Finance Committee and teaching the Pathfinders Sunday School class. He is survived by his wife Lucretia "Lee" Collins Patton, his children: Cynthia (Arthur) Stair of Knoxville, Dr. Lance Patton (Susan) of Jefferson City, Rebecca Patton Bettis of Chattanooga, and Crystal (Rhea) Garrett of Nashville, and his grandchildren: Christian Stair of Asheville, NC, Kathleen Stair of Knoxville, Sarah Stair of San Diego, CA, Emily Patton, of Juneau, AK, Brian Patton, of Atlanta, GA, Lt. Joshua Bettis, USN, of Washington, DC, Andrew (Elena) Bettis of Chattanooga, 1st Lt. Michael Bettis, USMC of CA, Dr. Rachel Bettis of Portland, Oregon, Caroline Garrett, Katherine Garrett, and Laura Lee Garrett of Nashville. Committal services will be held on Sunday, January 4th at 11 am at Highland Memorial Cemetery Whispering Waters by the Mausoleum, with the Reverend Larry Best officiating from Church Street United Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Church Street United Methodist Church, PO Box 1303, 900 Henley at Main, Knoxville, TN 37901. Please sign Mr. Patton’s online register book at www.highlandmemorialknoxville.com. Berry Highland Memorial, 5315 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. 865-588-0567