Evangeline J Patterson

Evangeline Ester (Jean) Patterson, 99, formerly of Wakefield, Nebraska passed away on June 22, 2009 at Logan Valley Manor in Lyons, Neb. Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 29th at 2:00 P.M. at the Bressler-Munderloh Home in Wakefield, Nebraska; with Pastor Charity Potter officiating. The visitation will be held on Monday starting at 12:00 P.M. Burial will be in the Wakefield Cemetery. Military rites will be by the Wakefield American Legion Post #81. Jean was born in Wakefield, Neb. May 22, 1910 to Theodore and Ella (Linde) Patterson. She graduated Wakefield High school in 1926 and then attended Wayne State College where she received a teaching certificate, becoming a teacher near Wakefield. Jean was one of the first Waves to attend boot camp in Cedar Falls, Iowa, in 1942 followed by primary training as an aircraft mechanic in Norman Oklahoma. She was the only woman in a class of 18 sailors and graduated as an Aviation Machinist Mate 3rd class assigned to the Naval air station in Jacksonville, Fl. Jean spent the war years as a inspector in a section that overhauled airplane engines, she was discharged in 1949 as a Petty officer first class. Jean went back to Wayne State College upon discharge from the navy and majored in business education. She was the administrative assistant to the Woodbury County superintendent of schools and in 1965 was one of the first persons elected to an administrative position at the Western Iowa Tech Community College. She was on the ground floor during the planning and construction of the school, retiring in 1973. Jean is survived by one sister, Elaine Godwin of Leesburg, Fl. Niece and nephew Susan Godwin of Denton, TX and Jim Godwin of Kerrville, TX and a special cousin Margaret Patterson of Wakefield.