Rev. Ronald Paul Patterson

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

Rev. Patterson (Ron) was born on December 4, 1941 in Ashland, OH, son of the late Donald and Mildred (Niswender) Patterson.

Following his studies at United Theological Seminary and Syracuse University Ron spent his career in Christian publishing: The Upper Room, Word Books, The United Methodist Publishing House and The United Methodist Reporter.

After moving back to Nashville from Dallas, Ron served as the Associate Pastor at the historic McKendree UMC. Upon moving to Cumberland County, 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.

He is survived by his wife, Marlene (Pfahler); sons, Paul (Ingrid) and Mark (Karen); grandchildren, Riccarda, Caspar and Myles; brother, David (Lola), brothers-in-law, Tom Sines (Marynell), Charles (Barbara), and Alan (Judy) Pfahler.

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

Ron’s life will be celebrated during a Memorial service at Fairfield Glade Community Church, 521 Snead Drive, Crossville on Saturday, June 28 at 1:00. The funeral will be on July,12 at the Mark A. Schneider Funeral Home in Galion, Ohio.