Obituary of Martha Ann Patterson

99 Years of A Beautiful LifeBorn in Roanoke, Virginia on November 15, 1920, Martha Ann Armstrong was a baby just as the world and America were healing from World War I and the devastating Spanish Flu.As a child growing up during the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression, she knew the pain of their family losing her father's job�and then their home. As a young woman in the 1940's, Martha worked as a secretary at the Army Induction Station and met Roy "Pat" L. Patterson who joined the Army and transferred into the Army Air Corps, training at air bases across the country.She was a beautiful blue-eyed brunette who married this P-47 Thunderbolt fighter pilot in training as World War II broke out. She endured the long wait daily for news from the European front, and wept with her cousin Betty whose pilot husband was "missing in action" and never returned.Her first baby, James, only lived a few weeks, and died from a stomach condition that is easily corrected today.Shorty afterwards, their daughter Ann was born in Selma, Alabama in 1946, where Pat was stationed for training in the P-51 Mustang after returning from the war in 1945. Living in Oklahoma City for a time, Martha dedicated her life to Christ. Raised in the Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church in Roanoke, Virginia, she attended First Baptist Church in Buena Vista, First Christian Church in Colorado Springs, and Vista Grande Baptist Church in Colorado Springs.As a young mother herself, she suffered the loss of her own mother who died at a very young age from a phlebitis condition.Martha and Pat moved to Denver, Colorado where their son Ed was born in 1950.She was a beautiful wife and mother through some turbulent times including a traumatic day when Ed at age 6 1/2 almost drowned in the neighbor's swimming pool. She finally learned to drive and made sure the kids got the sugar cube polio vaccine at school. Martha was a seamstress, a watercolor artist, and homemaker with excellent taste. She worked in retail and as a secretary when the kids were in high school.After her two children left home, she found a new home for their dog "Mickey" who later returned over twenty-five miles to get back to her on his own, and lived out his life under her care. She never could give him away again!She was a praying mother as her son served in and returned from Vietnam.She cared for her in-laws in their later years. Martha endured the sudden loss of her husband in the summer of 1981, and the loss of their first grandson Darren, age 14, later that same year on Thanksgiving Day from an auto accident.She moved back to Roanoke in 1984 for a time to live with her sister, Sarah "Angie", who had just lost her husband. Angie was later diagnosed with lung cancer and Martha cared for her at the last until she died.She helped care for her son-in-law's sister, Nancy, back in Colorado for five years until she passed away from cancer in 2012.There is no sweeter soul nor more excellent example of a gentle, gracious, loving wife, mother and friend anywhere in this world. Never complaining, never a harsh word, always accepting life with grace and a sure faith in God. Her love, tenderness, kindness, mercy, goodness, patience and humility stood out to all who knew her and loved her.She was always grateful to those who cared for her, beautifully dressed each day (she didn't even own a pair of pants), and only suffered the indignity of total dependence on others for a very few of her last days, after a series of strokes. Otherwise she was 99 going on 100, and still on her feet and in her right mind�"most of the time!"Martha is survived by her daughter, Ann (Dennis) Patterson of Colorado Springs; son, Ed (Katie) Patterson of Prescott, Arizona; grandson, Ryan Patterson of Buena Vista, Colorado; granddaughter, Jamie (Dan) Beaston of Escondido, California; great-grandchildren, Devon and DJ Patterson, Kailyn and Kenzley Beaston; nephew, Charlie (Carolyn) Newell of Salem, Virginia; grandniece, Marty (Jason) DeBord; and Marty's children, Kate and Mark of Salem, Virginia. She will be buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado with her husband Pat. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Martha's memory may be made to Darren Patterson Christian Academy, P.O. Box 1243, Buena Vista, Colorado 81211.Directions to Ft Logan for Martha's Service, June 22, 2020 at 11 a.m.Ft. Logan Cemetery3698 S Sheridan Blvd.Denver, Co. 80236There are two gates to enter Ft Logan. You will enter on Denver St.From Hwy 285 take the Sheridan Blvd Exit.Head south on Sheridan Blvd. The northern border of the cemetery is on Kenyon Ave.Continue south to the next left turn which is Denver St.Enter on Denver St and take the first right turn on Kansas Ave. There is a sign that says staging A area. The Ft Logan staff requests that anyone attending be at the staging area by 10:45 a.m. in preparation for an 11 a.m. service at the committal shelter nearby. All cars will follow the Ft Logan staff to the Committal Shelter for the service. The service will be approximately twenty minutes long. There will be no graveside service.The telephone number for Ft Logan is 303-761-0117 if you need additional information. Events Final Resting Place Fort Logan National Cemetery 3698 South Sheridan Boulevard Denver, CO 80235