WD Patterson

I didn’t know how to title this post…so I simply went with the name I knew him by.

WD Patterson (Walter Darby Patterson) died yesterday September 5, 2012 at the age of 49. He was born February 4, 1963. Arrangements are at the bottom of this post.

The news hit me like a brick…I was shocked that he was gone.

Captain Wines, WD Patterson, Rhett Fleitz

I only had the opportunity to hang out with WD twice. Once at FDIC 2012, the other at Firehouse Expo 2012.

We both climbed in the FDIC 2012 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. We didn’t climb together, but he LUCKILY had put his stuff near ours. I say “luckily” because when we were done we all ended up near each other. That is when he recognized Captain Wines. We all talked a minute, but Willie and I had something to get to. Our good friend Joe Lyons had hooked us up with a 12 pack of Yuengling and it was cold on ice waiting for us after the climb. We invited WD into our small group for a beer and we shared a little small talk. WD even took a group photo for us. I only wish we had someone else there to take the photo of all of us including WD.

The next time I would see WD was Firehouse Expo. WD went out and got a kilt. Some say it was because he saw Willie and I in ours. Needless to say, he was looking for us once he got that kilt on. He only needed us for a minute to get over the first time you wear a kilt in public. We hung out as a large group including WD most of the night. That was the FOOLS Brotherhood Bash in Baltimore.

I got to hang out with him twice…but his impact on me was much more than that. He MOTIVATED me.

I don’t know WD’s story, I didn’t get the fortune of spending that much time with him. What I do know is that he enjoyed running, cycling, and all around fitness. Hero Rush, Tough Mudder, Triathlon, you name it I am sure he did it. There were weeks when his updates on Facebook included 2 or 3 5k races plus other events and workouts. The man was a machine. His consistent updating of what he was doing showed me that I could do it too. At 14 years younger, I better be able to do it…that is the message the fire service needs to become healthier.

WD completed six or seven 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb events. He was also a Ride Backwards Athlete (more on that here)

His full obituary can be found here

“His experience in firefighting and emergency services was vast, serving as a firefighter and emergency medical technician (EMT), Springfield Fire Department, 1978-83; Seneca Fire Department, 1983-85; and Sandy Lake Fire Department, 1987-89; an EMT with Grove City Rescue, 1978-80; Chief of Community Ambulance, Oil City Station 2, assistant training director, 1981-85; continuing education coordinator, Venango County EMS, 1982-85; rescue chief, Sandy Lake Department of Public Safety, 1989-90; and with Stoneboro Fire Company, firefighter  from 1990-94, and assistant chief, 1995 to the present.”

Arrangements are as follows:

Visitation  is this Sunday 2-4 and 7-9.

Funeral will be Monday morning (9/10/2012) at 11am. Cunningham funeral home in Grove City, PA.  (Link, Map etc found by clicking HERE )

Memorial contributions can be made to the Grove City Community Library or  Grove City Fire Dept . Station 95.

Friends and family of W.D. Patterson wish to THANK YOU for your thoughts, prayers and support.

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