Melvern--Norma Patterson, 90, passed away on Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at Brookside Retirement in Overbrook, Kansas. She was born on January 10, 1930 in Olivet, Kansas, the daughter of Earl E. and Mary (Elliott) Arb.

Norma had lived most of her life in the Melvern community.

Norma taught for 41 years in elementary education. She began her teaching career at Plymouth School, a two-room rural school in Osage County. Later, Norma taught in Rice County and then at Melvern Grade School for 13 years. The last 24 years, she taught special education learning disabilities classes at Shawnee Heights School District, in Shawnee County. She held a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, a Master of Science in Education, and Reading Specialist certification from Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia. She received a Master of Science in Learning Disabilities from the University of Kansas. She retired in 1994 and worked as a substitute teacher and volunteer in the MdCV and Lyndon schools for another 20 years. Norma served in various activities in the Melvern community.

On August 3, 1949, Norma was married to RD Patterson in Lyndon.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Mary; by seven brothers, Earl Dean Arb, Orville Arb, Eldon Arb, Larry Arb, Warren Arb, Francis Arb and Donald Arb; and by one sister, Berenice Hobert.

Norma is survived by her husband, RD Patterson; her two sons, Jim (Lorrie) Patterson of Ottawa and Bill (Judy) Patterson of Lyndon;
her four grandchildren, Jason (Missy) Krause, Roberta Miller, all of Lyndon, Trent Patterson of Tampa, Florida and Ryan (Katie) Patterson of Columbia, S.C.; four great-grandchildren, Mason and Raylen Krause, and John and Jolene Green; two brothers, Dale Arb and Howard "Buss" Arb, both of Melvern; four sisters, Wilma Ambrose and Delores Ambrose, both of Wichita, Barbara Ernzen of Leavenworth and Shirley Twombly of St. Joseph, MO.; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to say a special thank you to the employees and management of Brookside Retirement Community.

Funeral services for Norma will be at 1:00pm on Saturday, February 1 at the Feltner Funeral Chapel in Lyndon. Burial will be in the Melvern Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4:30 to 6:30pm on Friday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Melvern Community Center or the Melvern Riverfront Park and Trails, sent in care of the funeral home.