I am one of Charles Patterson's four daughters.
When we were little, my sisters and I would hang off my father's arms. He would make muscles like a strongman would, and we would hang off his bulging biceps. He would pull us off the ground, and swing us around while we were gripping onto his ginormous muscles.
Dad was into health food long before the crazes. I remember him trying to get me to eat sardines ("They're the healthiest thing you can eat!), eat sauerkraut, eat whole grain bread. I remember my Dad gobbling down raw eggs way before Rocky Balboa! Dad was Paleo and he didn't even know it!
Dad was strong and muscular. Women couldn't keep their eyes off him. Though he was a modest dresser, his muscles would bulge through his shirts. He was a handsome man with beautiful eyes, a dazzling smile, and a great sense of humor. He could skip rope for hours, do pushups until you were dizzy just watching him, and loved those those things that worked out your hand grip.
Dad believed in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Dad's faith led me to accept Christ as my savior. I'm not the only one he led to Christ. Dad planted seeds. Some of them took root, some of them didn't. But it didn't stop him from trying!
I'll miss Dad. He was encouraging, kind, and never failed to believe in me. Yes, I'm sure that you know that he also had a lot of faults. But I forgave him those faults, as did most who had the chance to really get to know my Dad.
Rest in peace, Dad. Your struggle is over.
