Forrest T. Patterson

Forrest Tribble Patterson, 88, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on January 21 at Alamance Regional Medical Center after a brief illness.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fannie Grace Tribble Patterson and Howard Taft Patterson, and his sister Hazel Kathryn Patterson.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Margaret Anne Morgan Patterson; his son and daughter-in-law, David R. and Megan M. Patterson; his daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth A. and James Simmons; and his beloved grandson, David Simmons. Additional survivors include his sisters and brother-in-law, Sylvia and Mario Nardin and Patricia McDowell, as well as several nieces and nephews, and sisters-in-law Frances McCauley and Nancy Younger.

Forrest was born in Burlington, North Carolina, where he graduated from E. M. Holt High School. He went on to earn his degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Pharmacy. He proudly volunteered to serve four years in the U.S. Army Medical Corps.

After returning to North Carolina, Forrest worked part-time as a pharmacist while attending UNC–Chapel Hill Law School. Upon receiving his law degree, he served as an attorney for the American Pharmaceutical Association and later in the Office of General Counsel for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the Washington, D.C. area. He and his family later moved to New Jersey where he served as an attorney for Carter–Wallace and subsequently as an FDA regulatory consultant for Meda Pharmaceutical and MedPointe Pharmaceutical.

Forrest was a devoted husband and father who always placed his family above all else. He enjoyed golf, painting, genealogy, travel, cultural events, writing poetry, and especially writing stories for his grandson.

He will be remembered by those who knew him as a well-respected, gentle man, loved for his warmth, quiet resolve, and wonderful sense of humor. To his family, he will always be cherished as a beloved and loving husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, and relative.

The family will receive friends from 12:45 - 1:45 PM on Saturday, February 21st at Macedonia Evangelical Lutheran Church, followed by the funeral service to be held at 2 PM.  Interment will follow the service at Alamance Memorial Park. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Macedonia Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 100 Burlington, NC 27216 or to the charity of your choice.