Funeral rites were read for Joe Herbert Patton during graveside services at Coleman Cemetery on Sunday, August 24, 1997.  The services were conducted by Rev. Jim Considine, former Rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Coleman, assisted by Joan Rudolph.  Services were under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.

Patton was born February 20, 1936 in Gouldbusk and grew up in Coleman.  His parents were Ruby and Alden Patton of Coleman.  He worked for 15 years with the Texas Department of Public Safety in Austin in fingerprint identification, 12 years with Sperry Sun, a division of Sun Oil Company, in Lafayette, Louisiana as the district administrative supervisor and six years with the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office in Fort Worth in fingerprint identification.  At the time of his death he had returned to live in Coleman and was employed with the City of Coleman Police Department as a radio dispatcher.  He was a member of the Episcopal Church and a 32nd degree Mason with Shriner and Scottish Rites memberships.  In 1959, he married Bobbye Bass in San Angelo.

He is survived by his wife of Lafayette, Louisiana; a son, Scott, of Arlington; one grandson and two step-grandsons; two sisters, Frances Stephenson of Abilene and Patty Williams of Burleson.

Pallbearers were Bill Stephenson, Magness Williams, Jim Larson, Sumpter Weatherred, Robert Kerr and Bill Kerr.