Walter M. Patterson, III

Walter M. Patterson III, age 86, passed away Saturday, November 26, 2022, at Wesley Commons in Greenwood SC.

Born August 3, 1936 in Summit, NJ, he was the son of the late Charles R. Patterson of Summit, NJ and Pauline Works Patterson of Dixfield, ME. As a career military officer, he and his family lived all over the United States before retiring and moving to Greenwood in 1981 where he started a second career as a math professor at Lander University.

Dr. Patterson was married in 1962 to Susan Clare Reinhart and together they made a loving home with their three children. Susan passed away in 2009. After the death of his wife, he found a second great love with his partner, Janis Marie Puzar of Greenwood, SC. He is survived by his partner Jan Puzar, his three children; Elizabeth (Libby) Clare and her husband Tom of Paradise Valley, AZ, Walter M. Patterson of Pensacola, FL and Linda Patterson Korn and her husband Dale of Columbia, MO; a brother, C. Edward Patterson of Summit; and five grandchildren, Frances Clare Rucker, Camille Anna Rucker, Stuart Andrew Rucker, Liam Kyle Korn, and Susan Elise Korn.

He was distinguished graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1958, and served 26 years in the Armed Forces. Dr. Patterson was a pilot in the U.S. Air Force with over 6500 flying hours and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and 6 awards of the Air Medal. He spent 15 months in Vietnam as a C-130 pilot, flying over 600 combat missions. Twice he was on the faculty of the U.S. Air Force Academy as a mathematics professor. He held the MA and PhD degrees in mathematics from Syracuse University. After retiring from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Coronel, he worked 20 years as a Professor of Mathematics at Lander University, where he directed the Honors International Program and the Dual- Degree Engineering Program. Dr. Patterson was on the board of the Lander Foundation for three years. In 2000 he was designated Professor Emeritus of Mathematics. He was an active member of several mathematical organizations and served for three years as the State Director for the Mathematical Association of America and was on the Executive Committee for their Southeastern Section. In 2009 he was awarded the Southeastern Section Award for Distinguished Service to Mathematics. He also served as treasurer of the Greenwood Chapter of the American Guild of Organists for over 20 years and later as Dean. He was an active member in the West Point Society of Upstate South Carolina and served on their board and as co-President. He was also active in the Military Association of America and spent five years on their board.

The family will receive friends from 5-7pm Tuesday evening, December 6th at Blyth Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2pm Wednesday, December 7 at The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Greenwood, where he was an active member for over 40 years, with Rev. Mary Balfour Dunlap officiating. Immediately following the service, the family will hold a reception at the Fox & Hound inside Inn on the Square. The burial will be at West Point, NY with full military honors at a date to be determined.

Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Lander Foundation (Math/CS Endowment) or to the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection.