Roland Gerald Patton Jr., of Sonora, passed peacefully Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.
Also known as “Pat,” Roland was born Nov. 23, 1930, in Elgin, Illinois, to Roland Patton Sr. and Gladys Steeves.
He served in both the Navy and Air Force from 1950 to 1953. In 1954, Roland began working at Bank of America in Fresno. He later transferred to San Francisco, and then to the new office in Concord. He worked in the Electronic Recording Method of Accounting and Magnetic Ink Character Reading departments, both of which led to the development of ATM Machines. He retired from Bank of America after 39 years in 1992.
Roland was a resident of Tuolumne County since 2000, living first in Twain Harte for 17 years, before moving to Sonora in 2017. Roland was a member of SIRS, the Moose Lodge, and several local pinochle and bridge groups over the years. He made many friends wherever he was.
Roland is survived by his wife of 23 years, Irene Patton; younger brother, Donald Patton; three children, John (Victoria) Patton, Roland (Ann) Patton III, and Elizabeth Patton; four grandchildren, J. Philip (Amanda) Patton, Anna (Nicholas) Smithler, Everett Patton and Christina (Danny) Spencer; four great-grandchildren, Evan and Kaley Smithler, and Grayson and Madison Spencer; three stepchildren, Diana Woods, Steve Neufer and Melissa Neufer and their children.
He was preceded in death by his first wife of 44 years Louise, siblings Mary Jean Sarro and Isabelle Freer, son Donald Patton, and grandchildren Harrison and Leland Patton.
A celebration of life for local family and friends is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Sonora Hills Clubhouse. A private gathering will be held at a later date.
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