David "Red" Earl Patterson

David “Red” Earl Patterson, 88, of Palmyra, passed away peacefully with his loving family by his side on Saturday, January 16, 2021 at Londonderry Village.  He was born Sunday, April 24, 1932 in Munhall to the late Walter and Olive (Link) Patterson.  After the death of his father in 1937 and his mother in 1939 David and his brothers Arthur and James were placed in the Episcopal Church Home in Pittsburgh.  In 1943 his grandmother enrolled the three brothers in the Hershey Industrial School, now Milton S. Hershey School were he got his nickname “Red”.

As a student at H.I.S. he lettered in football, basketball and baseball.  He was inducted into the Milton Hershey School Spartan Hall of Fame in recognition of Outstanding Achievement in Athletics September 29, 2017. He received a second Hall of Fame Award September 21, 2018 when the 1949 HIS Baseball Team was inducted into the Hall of Fame. After graduation in 1950 he returned to the Pittsburgh area where he worked at the Bethlehem Steel Mill and in his uncle’s plumbing business.  After 18 months he came back to the Hershey area and was employed by TRW in Harrisburg and played on their baseball team, which was part of the Harrisburg Twi-Light Semi-Pro League.  He also played baseball for the Hershey Twi-Light Semi-Pro League and played one season semi-pro football for the Lebanon 5th Ward Gold Gophers.

He served in the United States Army in Korea from 1952 to 1954.  He played baseball on an Army team while stationed in Korea.  He retired from Local 520 Plumbers & Pipefitters Union in 1996 after 27 years of service.

He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Lorraine (Geib) Patterson; two sons, Jeffrey and wife Marlies of NJ and Timothy of Harrisburg; three grandsons, Lance and wife Brianna of NJ, Jeffrey and wife Laura of Philadelphia and Gerhard of NJ; a granddaughter, Marie of NJ; a step-grandson, Lars Branoff of NJ; also one great granddaughter, Stella of NJ; three sister’s-in-law, Virginia, Marion and Patty Patterson; numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by three sisters and three brothers, Alice Beacraft, Jacksonville, NC, Mary Seward, Columbia, SC, Florence Patterson, Homestead, PA, Walter Patterson, Marietta, GA, Arthur Patterson, Knoxville, PA and James Patterson, Hobbs, NM.

A funeral service will be held Friday, January 22nd at 12:00 PM at Rothermel-Finkenbinder Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 25 West Pine Street, Palmyra, PA 17078.  Family and friends are invited for viewing from 11:00 AM until time of the service at the funeral home.  Burial with military honors will follow in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his honor to Londonderry Village, 1200 Grubb Road, Palmyra, PA 17078. 

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.finkenbinderfamily.com 

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