Rev. Dr. Ronald Paul Patterson

The Rev. Dr. Ronald Paul Patterson, age 83, of Fairfield Glade, TN, passed away at Cumberland House in Crossville, TN June 17, 2025.

Rev. Patterson (Ron) was born on December 4, 1941, in Ashland, OH, son of the late Donald and Mildred (Niswender) Patterson.  As Ron’s father was a minister in the Evangelical United Brethren Church Ron grew up in several parsonages across northwest Ohio.  Ron was the next to last EUB to be ordained (1967) in the EUB Church prior to the merger in 1968 with the Methodist Church. 

Ron received a B.A. from Malone College, Canton, OH. He earned the M.Div. degree from United Theological Seminary, Dayton, OH. He completed an M.A. degree at Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY.  He was awarded the D.D. degree from Central Methodist University, Fayette, MO.  With his lifetime commitment to learning he attended summer classes at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TN, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, and Harvard University. Cambridge, MA.

Ron spent his career in Christian publishing.  While at The Upper Room, in Nashville, TN he was the Founding Editor of Alive Now!   At Word Books in Waco, TX he authored, Beyond the Goal with Kyle Rote, Jr. and edited books by Roger Staubach, Nolan, Ryan, Keith Miller, Malcolm Boyd, Bruce Larson and many other Christian authors. 

He was elected Book Editor of The United Methodist Church and Editorial Director of Abingdon Press and later promoted to Vice President at The United Methodist Publishing House in Nashville, TN.   His responsibilities included The Book of Discipline, The Book of Resolutions, The United Methodist Hymnal, and Hymns from the Four Winds.  While publishing over 100 titles a year, Ron brought many new authors to Abingdon, including William Willimon, Maxie Dunnam, Robert Raines, John Killinger, Jurgen Moltmann, Sara Cannon (aka Minnie Pearl), Al and Tipper Gore and many others.   During these years Ron traveled to the Frankfurt Book Fair, throughout Europe, South America, Africa and Hong Kong.

Upon becoming the CEO of UMR Communications in Dallas, TX he was responsible for newspapers published for the United Methodist Church, Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ, Presbyterian, and Lutheran denominations.  He also headed up the building program for a new $5 million facility.

After returning to Nashville from Dallas, Ron served as the Associate Pastor at the historic McKendree UMC. Upon moving to Fairfield Glade, Ron served as Associate Pastor at First United Methodist Church – Crossville; as interim pastor at Fairfield Glade Community Church and Westminster Presbyterian Church. He served on the Board of the Christian Counseling Center and as Board chair of Avalon Center for Domestic Violence. He was a Volunteer Chaplain at Covenant Health. And, with all that he was able to score a “hole in one” in golf.

Ron and Marlene (Pfahler) celebrated 62 years of marriage on September I, 2024.  He is also survived by his sons, Paul (Ingrid) and Mark (Karen); grandchildren, Riccarda, Caspar. and Myles; brother, David (Lola), brothers-in-law, Tom Sines (Marynelle), Charles (Barbara), and Alan (Judy) Pfahler.

Ron is preceded in death by his brother, John, sister-in-law, Donna (Zimmerman), and sister, Ruth Ellen Sines.

Ron’s life will be celebrated on July,12 at the Gompf Funeral Service-Galion Chapel, 303 Portland Way N., Galion, Ohio.  Visitation will be from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm with the service immediately following.  The Rev. Dr. Thomas Boomershine will be officiating.  The burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. 

Memorials may be made to the Center for the Evangelical United Brethren Heritage, United Theological Seminary, 4501 Denlinger Road, Dayton, OH 45426.

Those wishing to share a memory of Rev. Dr. Ronald or send condolences to the Patterson family may do so by visiting www.masfh.com.

The Gompf Funeral Service-Galion Chapel, is honored to serve the family of Rev. Dr. Ronald Paul Patterson.

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