Basil "Gene" Eugene Patton

Basil Eugene "Gene" Patton

Funeral services for Basil Eugene "Gene" Patton, 68, were held Tuesday, June 4, 1991, at 2 p.m. at the Memorial Baptist Church in Wheatland, Wyo. with Pastor John Branch and Pastor Fred Tuberville officiating. Interment was in Wheatland Cemetery.

Patton died Saturday, June 1, 1991, at his home in Hanna, Wyo., following a lengthy illness.

He was born Feb. 28, 1923, in Riverton, Neb., the son of Clarence and Alice (Brown) Patton. He moved to Wyoming as a young boy, and attended various schools graduating from the Lusk High School in January 1942. He immediately enlisted in the Army Air Corps, graduating from cadets in Valdosta, Ga., receiving his wings and commission in August 1943.

He was married to Rachael Geike of Harrison, Neb., on Aug. 30, 1943 in Valdosta, Ga., and they made their home at Dodge City, Kan., where he received his training as a combat cargo pilot. His overseas tour of duty was spent in the China-Burma-India Theatre with 436 combat missions over the Himalaya Mountains flying supplies, troops, and wounded in and out of China.

He received the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, air medal with two oak leaf clusters, Asiatic-Pacific service medal, American service medal, World Was II victory medal, and 40 years later a victory service medal from China. He was discharged in November 1945. He worked for a service station, ranched, and worked road construction till 1969. He then went to work for Peter Kiewit as a heavy equipment mechanic till his retirement at Rosebud Coal Company of Hanna. He was an avid fisherman and hunter.

He is survived by his wife, Rachel of Hanna; his mother, Alice Patton of Torrington, Wyo.; two sons, Robert Patton of Hanna and Richard Patton of Lander; one daughter, Glenda Duff of Wheatland; one sister, Barbara Ferris of Torrington and 14 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father, Clarence; one son, Gary; and one grandson, Kelly Patton.

Serving as pallbearers were Lawrence Ferris, Harry Serres, Howard Morse, George Birge, Neil Neuman and Dan Mahnke.

Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Floyd Rathbun, Noal Larson, Cecil Cox, Leonard Gladson, Shorty Lamb and Walter Dobkins.

A memorial to the Central Wyoming Cancer Treatment and Hospice Program of Casper or to the Lasting Legacy Scholarship Fund in Hanna would be equally appreciated by the family. The Platte Funeral Chapel of Wheatland was in charge of arrangements.

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