Sad News to Share
Founding Exeter Rotary Club member, Frank Patterson passed away on the morning of Monday, August 5th. The Celebration of Life for Frank was on Friday, August 9th at the Community Congregational Church in Greenland. A reception at the Portsmouth Country Club followed. Our member Rev. Bob Fellows officiated the service. Please read Frank's obituary below to be reminded of Frank's wonderful life;
Frank O. Patterson, 94, of Greenland, died Monday, August 5, 2013 at Portsmouth Regional Hospital in Portsmouth, NH. He was born January 27, 1919 in Sherman Mills, Maine, and was pre-deceased by three brothers. He is survived by his wife, Bertha Drew Patterson of 69 years.
Also surviving are his daughters Lorna Boucher of Greenland, Priscilla Miller of York, Maine and St. Michael’s, Maryland; son, Frank I Patterson of Greenland; one grandson Jason Boucher of Portsmouth; three granddaughters Danielle Boucher of Los Angeles, California, Mallorie Patterson of Dover, NH and Amanda Eidell of Kittery, Maine and one great-granddaughter Kayleigh Eidell.
Frank was a long time resident of Greenland, NH where he lived since 1951. He attended public schools in Sherman Mills, Maine and graduated from Lawrence Academy of Business Administration and Ford Motor Institute of Accounting. He also served his country in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). He was well known in the seacoast area as the owner of Patterson Ford in Exeter, NH and has participated in activities such as The Exeter Rotary and the Exeter Chamber of Commerce, He was a past president of the automobile dealers of Exeter, past president of the New Hampshire Ford dealers association, past president and member of the board of directors of the Portsmouth Shrine Club, First chairman of the yearly Bektash Shrine Circus, which started in 1972. Patterson was a member of St. John’s Lodge in Portsmouth, NH and was affiliated with all Scottish Rite bodies in the Portsmouth-Dover valley and a member of the NH consistory.
Frank Patterson was elected potentate of Bektash Temple in 1973. This is the highest elected position in this well-known charitable and fraternal organization.
He was a member of the board of directors of both Springfield Hospital and the Boston Burns Unit. Patterson joined the Shrine in 1961 and was appointed to the divan of Bektash Temple in 1966. He was the last potentate from the seacoast area.
He loved riding his tractor in the field, planting his garden and growing strawberries as he did for 18 years. Frank was a member of the Portsmouth Country Club for many years and also enjoyed politics, history, golfing, fishing, and a good card game. He also volunteered and spent time on the board of the Portsmouth Senior Citizen’s Council.
He had many different titles: Father, Husband, Brother, Uncle, Grandfather, Great-grandfather, and father-in-law. He was also a dear friend to many.
Masonic services will be held at 10:45AM on Friday, August 9th by St. John’s Lodge No. 1 F&AM with a celebration of his life following at 11am at Greenland Congregational Church located at: 10 Post Road, Greenland, NH 03840. A reception follows at The Portsmouth Country Club at 12 noon, located at 80 Country Club Lane, Greenland, NH 03840.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Shriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607 or donate online at: http://bit.ly/fpatterson.