Melvin D. Patton

Published in Belleville News-Democrat from August 19 to August 20, 2009

Melvin D. Patton, 67, of Columbia, Ill., born May 2, 1942, in Belleville, Ill., passed away on Aug. 17, 2009.

Mel starred in two sports, basketball and baseball at Belleville Township High School, played collegially one year at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, then signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1962.

He obtained a bachelor's degree in business administration at S.I.U. - Carbondale, then gained a law degree from St. Louis University. He had teaching stints at Wirth Junior High in Cahokia, and at Collinsville High School which led to a position as director of business services at Florissant Valley Community College.

From 1985 to 1998, Patton was vice president of Business and Finance at Fontbonne College in St. Louis, Mo., and then became director of the Sunset Hills (Missouri) Campus of Vatterott College.

While playing in the Mon-Clair league, Mel was not only a two time batting champion (.489 in 1969 and .359 in 1971), he also led championship teams at Valmeyer, Ill., and became a charter member of the Mon-Clair Hall of Fame.

He has served as the public address announcer during the annual Valmeyer 4th of July Classic. He is also a member of the Greater St. Louis amateur Baseball Hall of Fame. He dearly loved his wife, his children, his grandchildren, and his friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar and Jonelia, nee Becherer, Patton.
Surviving are his wife, Candace I., nee Wilson, Patton, whom he married on Aug. 15, 1970; daughter, Kim (Tedd) Bacott of Columbia, Ill.; sons, Deron Patton of Columbia, Ill., and J.D. (Tara) Patton of Millstadt, Ill.; grandchildren, Ryan, Caitlin, Ashley, J.T., Emma, Brittni, Kaitlyn, Kadence, Beau, and Berlyn; brother, Larry (Diane) Patton of Belleville, Ill.; sister, Lynn Brower of Columbia, Ill.; along with other relatives and friends.
Contributions may be made to the Mel Patton family. For more information, please access our website at www.lawlorfuneralhome.com.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009, at Lawlor Funeral Home in Columbia, Ill.

Funeral: Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday Aug. 21, 2009, at Lawlor Funeral Home. Interment will follow in the Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery, Columbia, Ill.

LAWLOR FUNERAL HOME, Columbia, Ill.