Joseph F. “Joe” Patterson, 82, passed away Friday evening, Aug. 31, 2012, at the Johnson Memorial Hospital in Franklin. He was a resident of Brown County.

Joe was born Feb. 14, 1930, in Milwaukee, Ore., to Burt and Effie (Price) Patterson. He married Margaret E. (Hunley) Patterson June 9, 1951, in Indianapolis. She survives after 61 loving years.

Also surviving are his three sons, Daniel J. (Jennifer) Patterson of Morgantown, David F. (Amy B.) Patterson of Brown County and Mark R. (Amy) Patterson of Nineveh. He will be remembered by his two sisters, Josephine Armes of Greenwood and Stecil Ferguson of St. Petersburg, Fla.; two brothers, Pat Patterson of Oregon and Bob Patterson of Thorntown; six grandchildren, Adam, Aaron, Nolan, Avery, Ben and Wesley; and three great-grandchildren, Levi, Sylas and Hudson.

Joe was preceded in death by one sister, Helen Thorne.

He was a 1948 graduate of Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis and went on to serve his country as a naval seaman with the United States Navy from 1949 to 1956. He also was a 1956 graduate of the Indiana Barber College in Indianapolis.

Joe retired in 1990 as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service in the Southport area after 25 years of service. In 1985, he was the founder and owner/operator of Hoosier Tool & Grinding in Brown County, which is still operating today. Prior to that, he owned a barber shop in Trafalgar from 1958 to 1965 and also worked as an instructor for the Indiana Barber College in Indianapolis.

Joe was a member of the Morgantown Baptist Church and the Letter Carriers Union of Southport. He was a hard worker all of his life and enjoyed reading, and was a fan of all sports, including the Indianapolis Colts and IU basketball. Joe loved his family and especially spending time with his grandchildren.  

The Rev. Ben Swopes will conduct a funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5 at Meredith-Clark Funeral Home Cremation & Personalization Center, 179 E. Mulberry St. in Morgantown. Friends can call from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in East Hill Cemetery in Morgantown with military rites presented by the Brown County Honor Guard.

Memorial contributions can be sent in honor of Joe to the Morgantown Baptist Church Memorial Fund, 109 W. Elm St., Morgantown, IN 46160.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be made to the Patterson family at www.meredith-clark.com.