David R. Pattison

David R. Pattison, 86, of Washington, died Sunday, September 14, 2014, in Donnell House, following a lengthy illness. He was born April 11, 1928, in Washington, a son of James Maurice Pattison and Cora Wilson Wilkinson Pattison. On November 4, 1948, he married Helen Marie Keefe, who died March 8, 2007. In 1989, he retired as President and Chief Operating Office of Fairmont Supply Company after 40 years with the company. Under his leadership, Fairmont Supply grew to be one of the largest industrial distributions firms in the United States. Mr. Pattison graduated in 1946 from Washington High School where he lettered in football, baseball, basketball, track and band, and attended Penn State Graduate Business School. Following graduation from high school, he completed a tour of duty with the Army in the Philippines and Okinawa. Mr. Pattison was very civic-minded and loved his hometown of Washington. He served on the board of directors of Washington Federal Savings Bank and the advisory board of the local branch of Mellon Bank. Mr. Pattison was a past member of the board of directors of Greater Washington Area Chamber of Commerce, the executive advisory board of Waynesburg College, the local board of the Salvation Army, the board of directors of Volunteers in Partnership, membership chairman of the Catawba District of the Boy Scouts of America, the Washington Senior Citizens Advisory Council and the Board of directors of Washington-East Washington Joint Authority. In addition, he was an elected member and former President of Washington School Board. Mr. Pattison was a member of First United Presbyterian Church in Washington for over 40 years and served for many years as an Elder and Clerk of Session. He taught the 4-W Sunday School class for several years and was active in the Washington Presbytery, where he served as vice chairman of the board of trustees. Later he was a member of Fairhill Manor Christian Church, where he also served as elder, and was an associate member of the First Presbyterian Church on Hilton Head Island. Active in many charities and fundraising efforts in the Washington area, Mr. Pattison served as co-chairman of the Central Washington County United Fund, served on the advisory board of Southwestern Pennsylvania Heart Association, and was involved in fundraising for the Presbyterian Medical Center and the Washington YMCA. An avid Wash High supporter, he was President of the Washington High Band Aids for a number of years and was the field announcer for the Washington High School band for over 16 years. Mr. Pattison was also active in athletics, playing baseball in the Washington Community League with East Washington, the Washington Generals and the Buccaneers. He also played softball for a number of years in the Ten Mile Valley League and the Washington Industrial League. He was a strong supporter of Washington Youth Baseball, Inc. Mr. Pattison had been honored by the Greater Washington Jaycees with their Distinguished Service Award, and named as employer of the year by both the Washington Business and Professional Women’s Club and the Washington Jaycees. He is survived by a daughter Diane Cope and husband James of Washington; a son, Jamie Pattison and wife Nancy of Simpsonville, South Carolina; five grandchildren, Dr. Sandy Cope-Yokoyama and husband Christopher of Dallas, Texas, Emily Robinson and husband Daniel of Jacksonville, North Carolina, Caitlin Pattison, of Simpsonville, South Carolina, Andrew Cope and wife Jenna Boyce-Cope of Imperial and David L. Pattison of Simpsonville, South Carolina. He was blessed with four great-grandchildren, his beloved “babies,” Cora and Lily Yokoyama and Madelyn and Liam Robinson. Deceased, in addition to his parents, are a son, David R. Pattison, Jr., who died in infancy; a brother, James Ellis Pattison; and two sisters, Eva Gertrude Luellen and Evelyn Grace Pattison. Friends will be received Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m., and Friday from 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., in William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington. Additional visitation will be held from 9 to 10 a.m., the hour of service, in Fairhill Manor Christian Church, with Rev. Michael Lehman officiating. Burial will follow in Washington Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 960 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Western Pennsylvania & West Virginia, River Walk Corporate Centre, 333 E. Carson Street, Ste. 441, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.