Robert C. Patch

Surrounded by family, Robert Clayton Patch passed away peacefully in Provo, Utah on November 24, 2008. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 15, 1921, to Renford Matthew Patch and Irma Martonne McKeever. He served a mission for the LDS church in California after which he joined the United States Navy in WWII and served 3 1/2 years. He married Adonna Allen, of Prescott Arizona, on May 14, 1943, in the Mesa Temple, while he was in the Navy. She is the daughter of Merle Maeser Allen and Tenna Haymore.

Robert earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of New Mexico. He continued his education with graduate studies at Harvard, Brigham University, the University of Southern California, University of Judaism, Hebrew University and a semester immersed in French language studies at Laval University in Quebec. He taught English and Philosophy for five years at El Camino College, California, during which time he taught part-time Institute classes in various Southern California Universities. He earned Master’s and Doctorate degrees from Brigham Young University where he soon became a full Professor in the Department of Religious Education, and taught there for 33 years.

His deep love of family, includes adoration for grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Robert will be remembered for his modest nature, his sharp sense of humor, his extensive gospel knowledge, and his love of learning and teaching.

He is survived by his wife Adonna, nine children: Pamela (Jim) Cantrell, Camille (Mike) Huntsman, Robert A., Brent (Janette), Brian (Tayva), Melissa (Glen) Phillips, Cindy (John) Patterson, Allen (Lora) and Mike (Linda), and by 50 grandchildren, 75 (and counting) great-grandchildren, his lovely sister, Helen Erekson, brothers, Eugene, Arthur and Grant Patch. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Valerie Maria, and returned missionary grandsons, Eric A. Johnson and Darin R. Patch.