Ronald L. Patton

Donna and I graduated from U.C. in 1964, me with with a B.A. in Early European History and Donna with a B.S. in math. I married Donna Avery (Walnut Hills 1961) in July of 64. Moved to Chicago and received my M.A. in Education and Master of Divinity in 1968 from McCormick Seminary. Donna received her Masters in math from Northwestern and worked in publishing in Chicago. I was ordained in 1968 and we moved to rural Indiana as pastor of a small church. We moved to Western Michigan in 1970 where I was Associate Pastor of a large church. We came to the Kansas City metropolitan area in 1973 where I became pastor of an urban church. Served there for 13.5 years.

Received my Doctor of Ministry degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1985.

I was pastor of an Italian Presbyterian Church for 17 years and melded that church with a Haitian congregation. Since retiring, have served as interim pastor and supply preacher in the area.

Effective January 12, 2009, I became the Parish Associate of Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, Kansas. My current responsibilities are in Adult Education. The church is just 5 minutes from our home. Donna is an elder and sings in the choir at Village.

End of November, 2011, I completed my work at Village and retired again -- for awhile.

I have served in a number of volunteer positions over the years and Donna and I are presently involved with several fine and performing arts organizations in the community.

Donna is a Senior Agent and Hall of Fame member of her company, The Principal Financial Group. She will probably never really retire.

We have travelled in China, Singapore, Alaska, France, England and Egypt. In February 2009 we will be on a small ship cruise out of Tahiti.

We look forward to the Reunion and hearing what you all have been doing. We may not get together very often, but the Class of 59 holds a very special place in my memories.

ADDITIONAL - 08-15-13 - Returned to the Staff of Village Church in June 2012 as Media Production Coordinator. Oversee everything from live-streaming to powerpoint connections for teaching. Sang in the Village Choir for about 6 months. Travelled to Italy with the choir in 2011 and in 2013 travelled to Germany, Salzburg, Prague and Vienna. Continue to be involved with various Fine and Performing Arts organizations. Completed 2 years as President(s) of our Ball Club (ballroom dancing).

ADDITIONAL - 07-21-17 - Celebrated our 50th anniversary with the family at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. 2015 travelled to Paris with son and daughter-in-law and continued on to Normandy with Northwestern University Alumni (Donna's graduate degree). February 2016 travelled to Argentina and Chile with Northwestern Alumni.

ADDITIONAL - 08-23-18
December 31, 2016 celebrated my 75th birthday dancing to Strauss waltzes at the Silvester Ball at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria. Donna and I were joined by our sons, Andy and Kirk, their wives Jill and Terra and our grandchildren Frances and Kai. My sister Linda (WHS '67) and her husband Dean. We danced from 6:30 in the evening until 3:45 in the morning. The Ball was over at 4 am.

February 2018 Donna and I were on Safari in Tanzania with the Northwestern University Alumni Assn. It was a rugged trip spending 6 to 8 hours a day in a Toyota Land Cruiser exploring and seeing lions, elephants, hippos, zebras and many other animals. Will never be content to go to the zoo again.

I continue to direct Media Production at Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, Kansas.

In June celebrated my 50th anniversary of ordination as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church.

In our senior year, the stage crew set out on a great adventure to raise money for the class -- sell the school. While working late on Showcase on a Saturday night, we slipped on to the roof of the school and hung a very large "For Sale" sign on the front of the school. Funny, we had no offers. Sure, we denied we knew nothing about it.

Second, I remember the task of the seniors on the stage crew was to make it snow during the "Christmas" program. We would sit on the "grid" high above the stage and throw snow at each other, thus providing the snow some three stories below on the stage. The only problem. That snow often continued in small flakes during "Showcase."