Golda Jean Patterson

Golda Jeane Patterson, 87, of Springfield, Virginia, died Friday, December 6, 2013 at her residence.
She was born April 7, 1926 in Riley Kansas, the daughter of the late Gustav Peterson and Emma Hammerbeck.
A Washington resident most of her life, Mrs. Patterson grew up in Kansas, where her family had farmed since the 1870’s. As a teenager, she worked as a phone company operator and a civilian employee at the Army’s Fort Riley during WWII. She came to Washington later, following a sister who had found work at the patent office, a branch of the Department of Commerce. She took a clerical job at the agency in the 1950’s. After leaving for child-rearing and to follow her husband’s career moves through the deep south, Mrs. Patterson returned to work in the patent office in 1966, where she became a clerical supervisor recognized for effective leadership. In 1984, she received Commerce’s Silver Medal, the department’s second highest employee honor. The agency said at the time that her work had improved accuracy and timeliness of the office’s clerical work saving money and making the office more useful to the public. She had earlier received a bronze medal. Mrs. Patterson retired in 1993. She was a member of the Kirkwood Presbyterian Church in Springfield, in Fairfax County.
She is survived a son, Steve Patterson of Jacksonville, Florida; a daughter-in-law, Sue Paterson of Goshen, Virginia; and a niece, Teresa Dean of Goshen, Virginia.
In addition to her parents Mrs. Patterson was preceded in death by a son, Greg Patterson.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, December 12, 2013 at Craigsville Funeral Home with Reverend John Haney, officiating. Interment will be in Riverview Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Justin Thompson, Francis Miller, William “Billy” Via, Edward Davidson, James Ramsey and John Ramsey. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association or St. Jude’s Hospital.