Rev. Dr. W. Morgan Patterson, a native of New Orleans, La., born Oct. 1, 1925, to E. Palmer Patterson and Jess Margaret Patterson, died at his home in Novato, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 19, 2010. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ernestine N. Patterson of Longwood, Fla., two sons, W. Morgan Patterson II and Jay N. Patterson, and four grandchildren, Nolan, Jessica, Grace and Abigail.
After high school, he served as a flight officer in the U.S. Army Air Corp. Upon discharge after WWII, he entered the Christian ministry. He completed his undergraduate work at Stetson University, Deland, Fla. He continued his education at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and post-graduate study at Oxford University, England. From 1959 to 1976, Dr. Patterson taught church history at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. Over the course of his professional career he also taught church history and related subjects at three additional theological seminaries in Louisiana, Missouri and most recently at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Mill Valley, Calif. He ended his career as the 22nd president of Georgetown College in Kentucky (1984 – 1991). After retirement, he continued teaching at the seminaries and at four colleges and universities: Louisiana Baptist College, Baptist College of Florida, Oklahoma Baptist University and Campbellsville University in Kentucky. As an assistant to the president, Dr. Patterson represented the College of the Ozarks for the western United States.
Representatives of schools where he served will join family and friends at the Memorial Service to be held at Tiburon Baptist Church, 445 Greenwood Beach Road, Tiburon, CA, on Nov. 28, 2010, at 2 p.m.
Dr. Patterson has donated his extensive library collection of church history and related material to the Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, 201 Seminary Drive, Mill Valley, CA 94941. Donations may be made to GGBTS / W. Morgan Patterson Collection in lieu of flowers.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to all those who were supportive during his recent illness.