Obituary
Harry Edwin “Ed” Patterson died Friday, December 14, 2018, in The Villages, FL. He was 76.
Ed was born at home on 8th Street in Irwin, PA, and grew up in his beloved Sheridan Terrace neighborhood. Ed graduated from Norwin High School in 1960, where he met his lifelong sweetheart and future wife, Virginia “Jean” Colinear Patterson. Ed was a standout player on the 1960 Norwin High School football squad. Ed then attended Tarkio College in Tarkio, Missouri, where he also played football and majored in biology.
After marrying his high school sweetheart, Ed and Jean moved to California for a brief time before moving back to their home town to raise a family.
Ed was a serial entrepreneur throughout his lifetime. Ed owned businesses in many fields ranging from an auto body shop early on, multiple restaurant ownerships, to EJ Specialties that serviced the Pittsburgh Pirates and The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, among others. Ed also was in the destruction business, owning Crusher Destruction in Pittsburgh, PA.
During the 1970’s CB radio craze, Ed’s radio handle was “Rainmaker,” because he could simply make it rain with one of his famous rain dances. Perhaps one of Ed’s greatest sports achievements was being the head coach of the Helms Little League baseball team for the NCAA sports league in Irwin, PA, on which both of his sons were players.
Ed was an avid and accomplished golfer throughout his lifetime. He can rest easy knowing that the Patterson hole-in-one curse was broken by his beloved grandson, Cade, just a couple of months before Ed’s passing.
Ed was an avid sportsman, referee, official, fisherman and hunter that loved trips to his hunting camp with his family and friends on many occasions.
Later in life, Ed and Jean moved to The Villages, FL, and made a treasure-trove of wonderful friends, for which Ed held very dear. Some of his favorite moments were lounging on his patios with his neighbors reminiscing about their lives, families and current events.
Ed is survived by his wife, Virginia “Jean” Patterson, his sons, Todd (Ann) Patterson and Bart (Tara) Patterson; and his beloved grandchildren Alexandra, Cade, Harper and Henry. I love you, a bushel and a peck – a bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck.
There will be a private church service for immediate family held for Ed at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Tampa, FL. A memorial service will be held for friends and neighbors in The Villages, FL, in the near future, and notices will be sent accordingly, prior to that event.
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