Rodney M. "Pete" Patterson

Rodney M. "Pete" Patterson, M.D., 81, passed away April 20, 2013 at home. Pete was born May 12, 1931 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He served as a medic in the Navy during the Korean conflict aboard the U.S.S. Magoffin. He received his medical degree from Tulsa University, graduating Alpha Omega Alpha with awards for outstanding research. After his internship and residency in internal medicine, he completed a fellowship in nephrology at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri before joining University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the Veteran's Administration. He loved his work, along with a passion for music, having trained in classical piano. He loved outdoor nature activities, including camping with the family, hiking and botany, and after retirement, lots of travel. Pete was preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his children, Anna Smith Patterson, and son Michael Patterson. He is survived by his second wife of 16 years, Norma Patterson; sons Steven Patterson (Susanna) of Benton, David Patterson (Diane) of Tabernacle, New Jersey, and daughter Karen Patterson (Gary Macdonald) of Petersburg, Virginia; grandchildren Josh, Ashley and Kristen; and great-granddaughter Abbigayle. Special thanks go to all at Arkansas Hospice for their loving and special care given at home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Arkansas Kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org. Services will be announced upon arrival of family. Arrangements by: Arkansas Funeral Care.