Clark B. Patterson

Clark Benny Patterson, age 88 passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Born October 3, 1937 in Burlington, NC, Clark was the son of the late Edgar Marion Patterson and Elida Belle Garrison Patterson. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Gordon and Marvin Patterson, and infant twin sisters.

He married his wife of 67 years, Lila Walker Patterson, on his birthday in 1958 after dating for 2 years, waiting so he could “be a man.” Together they raised three children. He loved to practice his Spanish, and was proud of the classes he took while at Elon College. After completing his Business Administration degree in 1965, he worked at Burlington Industries for 40 years until his retirement.

He was lucky. If there was a charity raffle to enter, a slot machine with one last quarter, a round of poker, he would win. He was kind. To know Clark was to have a friend. He was silly. Clark loved to make the people around him laugh and be in on the joke with him.

He was a ball player, playing on A&O High School’s football, baseball, and basketball teams. He was the May Day King of his senior class. Later in life, he was a referee and coach, and he enjoyed playing golf with his wife and friends. He scored several hole-in-one’s at Indian Valley golf course.

He will be remembered by his loved ones as a faithful member of the A & O Civitans, the Moose Lodge, and Bethlehem Christian Church. For 40 years he regularly attended Thursday night men’s night at his family’s cabin, and proudly served as the group cook, keeping his friends and family fed.

Clark was a farmer at heart, and took pride in having spent the first 20 years of his life working on his family’s tobacco farm. Later in life, he kept his garden at the farm and supplied his neighbors with fresh produce for years.

He and Lila traveled the world in retirement, across Europe and Asia. He and Lila loved taking group river boat cruises and cruised all across the Atlantic.

He loved his family and doted on his grandchildren. He taught his grandchildren how to fish. He attended and cheered on his granddaughters at countless softball, volleyball, basketball, and soccer games. An avid Elon University fan, Clark was a loyal season ticket holder for many across all their athletics programs.

Survivors include his wife Lila Walker Patterson; son Eric Patterson and his wife Lynne; daughter Lisa Patterson Poe and her husband Tom; and son Kenneth Patterson and his wife Sharie; 6 grandchildren and their spouses, 4 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and his cat, Sugar.

The visitation will be held Sunday, April 26 Bethlehem Christian Church in Elon, NC from 1:30 - 2:45, with the funeral service to follow at 3pm. A reception will be held in the fellowship hall afterwards and the family will be at the home at other times.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice Care of Alamance County/Authoricare, the A & O Civitans, or Bethlehem Christian Church.