John "Bob" Patrick

PATRICK, John R., Bob , born April 14, 1921 in Belmont County, Ohio, the oldest of seven children of Luther and Stella (Major) Patrick. He graduated from New Philadelphia High School in 1939 and enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940. Bob was the last surviving crew member of the B-17 My Gal Sal that was forced to land north of the Arctic Circle in 1942. After the conclusion of the war, he came to Dayton, Ohio, where he worked at Wright Patterson AFB until his retirement in 1982. Bob served in the Ohio Air National Guard in Springfield and Columbus and was part of the 1961 mobilization to France for a year in response to the building of the Berlin Wall. He continued his involvement with the Friends of the Air Force Museum for many years, before and after his retirement. He married Dorothy Venrick April 19, 1947 and she preceded in him death in January of 1992. They lived on Arcadia Blvd. for more than forty-five years. Bob later married Eileen Whitehead in July of 1995 and she survives him. He is also survived by two sons, the Rev. Stephen (Ruth) Patrick of Dover, Ohio and Dennis (Linda) Patrick of Burleson, TX; step-daughter, Carol (Morry) Marshall; two grandchildren, Heather Patrick of TX and Martin (Maggie) Patrick of St. Paul, MN; a great-grandchild, Traci of TX. In addition, Bob is survived by two step-daughters, Karen Aleshire of Dayton and Leslie (Scott) Eley of Vandalia; four step-grandchildren, Matthew (Ginay) Briggs, Margaret (Ricky) Barnhart, Barry and Jason Eley; 3 step-great-grandchildren; three brothers, Russell, of Mt. Vernon, OH; William of Orlando, FL and David of Lakeland, FL; 1 sister, Carol Teter of New Philadelphia, OH along with numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Thursday, March 31 at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 6540 N. Main St., Dayton, OH with Pastor Doug Jacobs officiating. Burial will follow at Willowview Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Morton & Whetstone Funeral Home, 139 S. Dixie Dr., Vandalia on Wednesday from 5-8 pm. If so desired, contributions may be made to Hospice of Dayton in Bobs memory.