George Thomas ‘Tom’ Patterson, DuPont retiree

George Thomas (Tom) Patterson, 83, of Rehoboth Beach passed away Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, while vacationing in Destin, Fla.  He and his wife were “Annual Snowbirds” to the Panhandle for over 20 years.

A native Wilmingtonian, Tom was born May 22, 1935, to the late Lydia Powell and Gilbert Saville Patterson.  He graduated from P.S. DuPont High School and attended the University of Delaware.  He worked for DuPont for 38 years in Wilmington, Charlotte, N.C., and Dalton, Ga., (where he retired).  He was a member of the Delaware National Guard for nine years.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Gilbert Saville Patterson Jr. and his wife June.  He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Patricia Joyce; two children; Christine of Springfield, Va., and Thomas (Caroline) of Collegeville, Pa., and their two daughters, Julia and Anna. He is also survived by his niece and nephew of Wilmington.

Tom was known for his great sense of humor.  In his retirement years, he loved traveling with his wife, walking on the beach, eating Thrasher Fries and hot dogs from Gus & Gus's on the Boardwalk.   Most of all “Pops” loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.  He will be dearly missed by many friends and neighbors in Rehoboth where he and his wife have lived for the past 20 years.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, Feb. 16, at 11 a.m., at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, where friends may visit beginning at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Sunday Breakfast Mission, 110 Poplar St., Wilmington, DE 19801, or to the Semper Fi Fund to support wounded combat service members and their families by visiting https://semperfifund.org/donate/.

Please visit Tom's Life Memorial Webpage and sign his online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.