Norma Patterson

Norma Patterson

Jan. 10, 1930 – Jan. 29, 2020

OVERBROOK — Norma Patterson, Melvern, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook. She was 90.

She was born Jan. 10, 1930, in Olivet, the daughter of Earl E. and Mary Elliott Arb. She lived most of her life in the Melvern community.

Norma taught for 41 years in elementary education. She began her teaching career at Plymouth School, a two-room rural school in Osage County. Later, she taught in Rice County and then at Melvern Grade School for 13 years. The last 24 years, she taught special education learning disabilities classes at Shawnee Heights School District, Shawnee County. She held a bachelor of science in elementary education, master of science in education and reading specialist certification from Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia. She received a master of science in learning disabilities from the University of Kansas. She retired in 1994 and worked as a substitute teacher and volunteer in the Marais des Cygnes Valley and Lyndon schools for another 20 years. Norma served in various activities in the Melvern community.

She married RD Patterson, Aug. 3, 1949, in Lyndon. He survives.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Mary; seven brothers, Earl Dean Arb, Orville Arb, Eldon Arb, Larry Arb, Warren Arb, Francis Arb and Donald Arb; and a sister, Berenice Hobert.

Besides her husband, she is survived by two sons, Jim Patterson and wife, Lorrie, Ottawa, and Bill Patterson and wife, Judy, Lyndon; four grandchildren, Jason Krause and wife, Missy and Roberta Miller, all of Lyndon, Trent Patterson, Tampa, Fla., and Ryan Patterson and wife, Katie, Columbia, S.C.; four great-grandchildren, Mason and Raylen Krause and John and Jolene Green; two brothers, Dale Arb and Howard “Buss” Arb, both of Melvern; four sisters, Wilma Ambrose and Delores Ambrose, both of Wichita, Barbara Ernzen, Leavenworth, and Shirley Twombly St. Joseph, Mo..; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to say a special thank you to the employees and management of Brookside Retirement Community.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1 at Feltner Funeral Chapel, Lyndon. Burial will follow at Melvern Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31 at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Melvern Community Center or Melvern Riverfront Park and Trails and sent in care of Feltner Funeral Chapel, 818 Topeka Ave., Lyndon, KS 66451.

Online condolences may be expressed at feltnerfuneralhome.com.