Mr. Walter Freeman Patterson

Walter Freeman Patterson passed away on July 20th, in Dallas Texas, at the age of 76 surrounded by his family. Walt grew up in New London, Texas. After his first birthday, he contracted polio as the disease was spreading worldwide. During the early years of his life, Walt endured numerous operations and therapy at the Warm Springs Foundation in Georgia. After several years of surgeries and rehabilitation, Walt was able to return home to New London with the aid of leg braces, crutches, and back supports, which he relied on for the rest of his life. He graduated from London High School and Sam Houston State University. At Sam Houston, he found his body would allow him to be a part of the gymnastics team where he placed first in every competitive parallel bar competition during his four years in college. Walt worked for Southwestern Bell (now known as AT&T Wireless ) until his retirement. While there he received many commendations and awards for his innovations to the newly emerging cellular field in communication. While working at AT&T, Walt met the love of his life, Rosie. They soon added a son, Bo, to complete their family. They celebrated 45 years of love while supporting each other through good times and difficult ones as well. He loved his family deeply. Aside from his family Walt loved music. He was in bands from high school and college throughout his later years. His walls were covered with pictures of some of the “gigs” with friends and bands, and “more well known-musicians” he met and had the opportunity to “strum a bit with.” As Walt got older he and the “Trinity River Ramblers” would visit nursing homes to an always adoring audience. Walt played music to share the Gospel with inmates in Texas prisons through Bill Glass Prison Ministries. He worked at the United Way serving as the board president of a United Way agency that primarily employed people with disabilities. One of Walt’s last experiences occurred when he decided to make a trek to Nepal and try to climb with his braces and crutches to the Mt. Everest’s Base Camp. A documentary of Walt’s journey named Climb High, Pray Higher, was submitted to the Cannes World Film Festival and it won first place in its category. It can be found on YouTube and is an account of his determination and strength. Walt was predeceased by his father Willard (Pat) Patterson and mother Beth Ryan. He is survived by his wife Rosie, his son Bo and wife Carrie, his two grandchildren, Zane and Lily, sister Prissy Grozinger and her husband Kurt, two nephews Patrick and Hart and niece Liza Beth. Walt was a husband, a father, a brother, a friend, and an incredible person who will be missed forever by those fortunate enough to have known him. Services will be held on August 22 at 2 pm at the Crawford Funeral Home in Henderson, TX. Visitation with the family begins at 1 pm.

Mr. Walter Freeman Patterson

February 8, 1950 - July 20, 2026