Robert R. "Bob" Patterson

Robert R. "Bob" Patterson

Nov. 2, 1933 - July 20, 1921

LAWRENCE, Kansas -- Funeral services for Robert R. "Bob" Patterson, 78, Lawrence, Kansas, will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 24, 2012, at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Lawrence. He died on Friday, July 20, 2012 at Brandon Woods at Alvamar.

Bob was born on Nov. 2, 1933, in Broughton, Kansas, the son of Thomas Ralph and Anna M. (Eisenhammer) Patterson.

He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War 1953-1956.

Bob spent his entire career as a vertebrate zoologist at the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History from 1957 until he retired in 1992.

He was a member of the University of Kansas Endacott Society. He attended the First Christian Church in Lawrence.

He married Maxine Shields on Aug. 18, 1957, in McCook, Nebraska. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include one daughter, Hyacinth Self and husband, Jim, Lawrence; three brothers, George Patterson (wife, Sylvia), McCook, Nebraska, Joe (wife, Shirley) Patterson, Lawrence, and James Patterson, Tonganoxie, Kansas ; one sister, Amanda Barnes, Baldwin City, Kansas; six grandchildren; three step-grandchildren, two great grandchildren and nine step-great grandchildren . He was preceded in death by a daughter, Holly Patterson, sister, Mary Drake, and a grandson.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in his name to the KU Museum of National History or to the American Cancer Society and may be sent in care of the mortuary.

Online condolences may be sent to www.warrenmcelwain.com.