Ken Patton

Ken Patton died Saturday October 13, 2018 surrounded by his family. Mr. Patton was a dedicated servant of the government for over 40 years. He began work with the Department of Disability Determination for the State of Arkansas, and worked his way up to the Assistant Director of that agency. He was then appointed by Governor David Pryor as the Director of Disability Determination for the state of Arkansas. He served in this position under Arkansas Governor’s David Pryor, Bill Clinton and Frank White. In 1984 he went to work for the Regional Social Security Disability Determination Office in Dallas, Texas. A year later, he was appointed as a special advisor to the Director of the Social Security Commissioner in Baltimore, Maryland. He retired from the Little Rock Social Security Office in 2007.

Born in Ohio in 1941 to Betty Iona Widener Patton and Gilbert Everett Patton, he was raised in Clinton, Arkansas. He was an athlete and a proud player for the Clinton High School football team. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Arkansas State Teacher’s College (UCA) and studied law at the Little Rock Law School. He furthered his education at the University of Tennessee and the McGregor Law School in Sacramento, California.

He was a dedicated family man and an enthusiastic traveler. He loved camping on Lake Ouachita with family and friends. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Juanita Sigler Patton, son Ron Patton (Diann), daughter Keena Patton Vellance (Ron), 3 grandchildren Patton Vellance (Jamie), Kayla Patton (Kait) and Kenyon Patton, and 2 great-granddaughters Harper Grace and Ira James Vellance.

A memorial service will be held at 11am on Thursday, October 18 at Pulaski Heights Methodist Church, 4823 Woodlawn Drive in Little Rock. A reception will immediately follow the service. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Pulaski Heights Methodist Church or Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

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