Virginia Patton

Considered an elegant and beautiful lady by those who knew her and a former Mrs. Virginia, Virginia Koeppen Patton died on January 15, 2006. Mrs. Patton was born May 9, 1933 in Arlington Heights, Illinois, the daughter of the late Bernhardt Koeppen and Evelyn Hausam Koeppen. She was also pre-deceased by a sister, Carol McDougall and a brother, Ronnie Koeppen, both of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Known as ?Ginny? to most friends, she was a member of Saint Marks United Methodist Church for 49 years where she served in numerous leadership positions, including youth director of the newly formed Cub Scout pack. She was proud that two of her sons became Eagle Scouts through the church sponsorship of Scout Troop 180. Mrs. Patton was a member of the Women?s Book Club with roots dating to1897 and served as its chairperson. She served as a volunteer of the Southside Regional Hospital Twigs, and was a member of the Junior Women?s club and Federated Women?s Club. Mrs. Patton was a past board member and chairperson of the Southside Home Builders Ladies Auxiliary. She also participated actively in fund raising initiatives for many charitable groups, including the American Cancer Society, American Heart Fund, and March of Dimes. Mrs. Patton was a generous philanthropist, supporting a wide variety of social and civic causes in central Virginia. With her husband, she made substantial gifts to the Petersburg Governor?s School, Southside Virginia YMCA, the Massey Cancer Clinic, Sycamore Rough Theatre, Richard Bland College and to many other benevolent organizations. Mrs. Patton recently endowed a memorial scholarship fund in her name for qualifying students attending Richard Bland College. Together with her husband, Mrs. Patton served as co-chairperson of the Parent/Student Committee for the University of Richmond. Mrs. Patton was one of the original organizers, benefactors and board members of the Southside Virginia Concert Series and also served as President. While she considered fund-raising and garnering business support for the concerts to be ?necessary chores?, her favorite duty, assisted by other board members, was to plan and entertain the performers in her home following the concerts. Her favorites included singer John Raitt and Les Brown and his ?band of renown?. Her fondest memories included competing in the Mrs.Virginia contest and being selected as ?Mrs. Virginia?. She subsequently competed for the title of Mrs. America in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where she was a finalist. She was also runner up in the competition for Mrs.USA Savings Bond?, which included a speech contest on ?patriotism.? Mrs. Patton was a world traveler, having visited over the years with her husband more than 85 countries. Special travel experiences were visits to China and Russia during the ?cold war era? and being in Jerusalem the day President Arafat was elected President of Palestine. Despite the often hectic pace, she also enjoyed playing bridge, reading, gatherings of the Birthday Luncheon Club and water aerobics sessions with her friends at the local YMCA. She has long been fascinated at the wonder and beauty of the rising and setting suns. Her favorite pastime when at the family beach home in Sandbridge was to patiently anticipate the early rise of the sun over the ocean, and the sunset in the evening over Back Bay to the west. Not surprisingly, the song ?Sunrise-Sunset? from the musical ?Fiddler on the Roof? has been her longtime favorite. Mrs. Patton is survived by her husband, William A. Patton, who has been her faithful companion for 53 years: four sons, Larry D. Patton (Denise Fournier), Charles A. Patton (Barbara Jean Bogese), J. Dale Patton (Leslie Kilbourne) and W. Allen Patton, Jr.; two granddaughters, Lindsey Virginia Patton and Rebecca Allen Patton; five grandsons William Reed Patton, William Andrew Patton, Benjamin Dale Patton, Trent Alexander Patton, and Ryan Lee Patton; two brothers, Kenneth Koeppen and John Koeppen; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She held a special fondness for a niece, Mildred P. Hice, of Greensboro, North Carolina, who she considered her ?little sister?. Funeral services will be held at 11:00AM, Tuesday, January 17th at Saint Mark?s United Methodist Church, Claremont Street, Petersburg. Visitation with the family will follow the church services. Internment will be private at the Patton burial site in Blandford Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be made to the Virginia K. Patton Scholarship Fund, Richard Bland College, 11201 Johnson Rd., Petersburg, Virginia 23805, or the Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, P. O. Box 98037 Richmond, Virginia 23286. J. T. Morriss & Son, Petersburg Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com