David Harrison Patton's Obituary
David Harrison Patton, a man whose life was as vast and deep as the waters he loved to fish, cast off for his final voyage on August 11, 2025, just days shy of his 72nd birthday. Born in Tacoma, Washington, on August 16, 1953, David lived a life defined by resilience, reinvention, and quiet generosity.
A proud graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Class of 1972, David’s journey took him from the halls of Western State Hospital, where he served the state with compassion and grit, to the rugged shores of Alaska’s fishing industry, where he found both adventure and solitude. His final professional chapter unfolded at the SHAG Apartments, where he became more than a staff member—he was a confidant, a friend, and a beacon of kindness to every resident. David didn’t just work there; he made it a community.
Fishing was more than a hobby—it was his heartbeat. From his earliest days, David found peace on the water, his boat a sanctuary where he could reflect, dream, and reel in the stories of his life. He was a hard worker, self-determined, and the epitome of new beginnings. No matter the challenge, David met it with quiet strength and an unwavering belief in second chances.
David was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Claude Harrison Patton Jr. and Doshel Maxine Allie-Patton, and his brother-in-law, Dr. Ralph Peters. He is survived by his three devoted sisters: Mary Sullivan of Solvang, California; Connie Tollefson and her husband Rudy of Tacoma, Washington; and Lori Peters of Fremont, Ohio. Their love and admiration for David remain boundless.
To know David was to know resilience. He lived with purpose, worked with integrity, and loved without condition. His legacy is not just in the places he worked or the fish he caught, but in the lives he touched—with a smile, a helping hand, or a story shared on a quiet afternoon.
Fair winds and following seas, David. You are deeply missed and forever remembered.
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