Richard (Dick) Maurice Patten

October 21, 1924 – February 2, 2015

When Dick Patten was born in Seattle with cerebral palsy, his prognosis was not good. Some doctors didn’t expect him to live past his seventh birthday. But his parents were determined that his life would be as normal as possible, and as he got older, they taught him important skills and gave him jobs to help him grow stronger and develop a solid work ethic.

Throughout his childhood, some teased him because of his disabilities, but that never affected him. His parents taught him to look for the good in everyone, laugh at his problems and be grateful for his blessings.

Graduating from a Seattle school for the handicapped, Dick worked as a stock boy at Leed’s Shoe store. He used his weekly wages to pay room and board to his parent s, buy a chocolate milkshake at Woolworth’s and add to his savings.

His parents’ lessons in positive thinking and self-reliance

paid off. Dick was known in West Seattle on and off his bicycle

as an energetic encourager. He made many gifts out of wood.

He will be honored with a memorial reception at Normandy Park Community Club at the ‘Cove’ 1500 SW Shorebrook Drive

98166 at 1:00pm, Saturday May 16th, 2015.