On July 3, 1928 the following article was published in the Huntington Herald-Dispatch, page 2. 

“Deaths

PATTERSON RITES In AUDITORIUM

Fellow Officers and Officials Pay High Tribute to Dead Detective Chief 

            Funeral Services for Chief of Detectives Thomas W. Patterson, 59 years old, 312 Main Street, Guyandotte, will be held tomorrow afternoon at 3 o’clock in the city auditorium. Rev. P. H. Mckain, pastor of the Guyandotte Methodist church, will officiate, with Rev. A. J. Walton, pastor of the Emmanuel M. E. church, assisting.
            Plainclothesmen Spencer, Chapman, Stever and Vernatt and Bertillon Inspector Garfield Rose and Police Clerk Sam Childers will act as pall bearers.  The list of honorary pall bearers includes Mayor Taylor and former mayors C. W. Campbell, Floyd S. Chapman, W. E. Neal, Rufus Switzer and Ira J. Harshbarger, under whom Chief Patterson had served, Chief of Police Porter and former Chief Sam Davis.  Members of the Guyandotte Council, No. 181, Junior Order United American Mechanics, to which Chief Patterson belonged, will have charge of the services at the grave-side.
            Burial will be at Ridgelawn cemetery.
            Chief Patterson, who was head of the city detective bureau for five years, died at a local hospital early yesterday morning following an operation to remove and intestinal obstruction.
            He reported for duty as usual Friday morning.  In spite of the fact that he was not feeling well, he objected to leaving the office when urged to do so by plainclothesmen in his department.  Those who were most intimate with Chief Patterson said that he had been suffering acutely for several months, but refused to admit that his condition was serious.  He did not improve Friday and Saturday and was taken to the hospital when he suffered an alarming relapse Sunday evening.
            The operation was performed immediately upon his arrival at the hospital.  Members of the family were notified that his condition was critical.  He died before he recovered from the effects of the anesthetic.
            The news of his death was a shock to his fellow members of the police department, who were numbered among his most intimate friends during the16 years he served with them.
            Chief Porter immediately extended his sympathies to the members of Chief Patterson’s family, and started plans for a fitting tribute that will be paid his fellow officer during the funeral services in the city hall tomorrow.
            Captain Ira Harrold, one of Chief Patterson’s most intimate friends, said: “He was a real soldier, and had a merry twinkle in his eye.  He was always disposed to avoid turmoil and petty bickering.  His heart was as big as all out doors.  The office of chief of detectives will be filled but no one can take his place in the hearts of the men who worked for him and with him.”
            Like expressions were made by Captain Ira Adams, and Captain John Davis, and numerous others.
            Chief Patterson was born in Tazewell County, VA. November 21, 1869.  His parents, Mr. and Mrs. R.S Patterson, moved to Barboursville, when he was six years old.  He came to Huntington when he was 21 years old, and after working as the foreman of a river crew and at the Chesapeake & Ohio shops he joined the police department.  He reported for duty June 12, 1912, and for ten years worked a beat in Guyandotte.  He was promoted to the rank of chief of detectives five years ago.  For a time, during the final months of the last Chapman administration, he served as acting chief of police, combining the added duties with his regular work as chief of detectives.  Chief Patterson is survived by his widow, Mrs. Alice Patterson, his mother, Mary E. Patterson, of West Hamlin; one brother, W.S. Patterson of Indianapolis, Ind.; four sisters, Mrs. Alice Cummons and Mrs. Blanche West of Huntington, Mrs. Nettie Luster, of West Hamlin, and Mrs. Ruth Burkes, of Barboursville; two daughters, Mrs. Lawrence McLain, of Huntington, and Mrs. Eugene Haskell, of Columbus, O., and one grand daughter, Letty Jean Haskell.”

Buried in the Ridgelawn Cemetery

On Wednesday, July 4, 1928 the following article was published in the Huntington Herald-Dispatch, page 2.

“BODY IN STATE AT CITY AUDITORIUM

Remains of Chief Patterson to be Brought to City Hall at 11 o’clock

The body of Chief of Detective Thomas W. Patterson, who died early Monday morning, will be brought from the Steele Funeral Home to the city hall at 11 o’clock this morning, instead of 12 o’clock as originally planned.
            The body will lie in state in the hall just outside the doors leading to the auditorium where the funeral services will be conducted. Patrolmen Jerry Johnson and Frank Young will act as guards.
            The names of the Police Captain Ira Harrold and Patrolman Harry Beheler were added to the list of active pall bearers.”
On Thursday, July 5, 1928 the following article was published in the Huntington Herald-Dispatch, page number unknown.

“PATTERSON RITES HELD WEDNESDAY

Services Are Conducted in City Auditorium With Interment at Ridgelawn

            Final tribute was paid to Chief of Detectives Thomas W. Patterson, yesterday afternoon at the funeral services held in the city auditorium.
            The body lay in state at the Fifth avenue entrance of city hall from 11 o’clock yesterday morning until the hour of the service. As Patrolmen Jerry Johnson and Harry Behler stood at attention beside the bronze casket, hundreds of friends, neighbors, and fellow officers of the police department filed past to pay tribute to “Tom Pat,” as he was affectionately known to his associates.

Sent in by Martha Rehm