Hampden - George A. Patterson Jr, born February 10, 1934, at Bangor, ME; died December 5, 2020, at Bangor, ME, following a brief illness.
He was a beloved son, husband, father, friend, aviator, engineer, musician, genealogy researcher, lifelong learner fueled by curiosity. To know George was to have a friend.
George is survived by his wife, Juliet Baker Luro; daughters, Lynn P. Flagg and Carol P. Boynton (Mark); grandchildren, Sarah Flagg, Michael P. Flagg, Emily L. Boynton, Sam P. Boynton, Mary E. Boynton Healy, Maggie R. Boynton; and great-granddaughter, Nora Claire Healy; his aunt, Edna Stevenson; Judy’s sons, Andy Luro (Cynthia) and Brian Luro (Anjelique); and their children, Scott, Kristina, Peter, Brooke and Alec; along with many cousins and relatives in Maine and across the country.
On the record-setting cold and snowy night of February 10, 1934, George Amos Patterson, Jr. was born in Bangor to G. Amos Patterson, Sr. and Roxine Estelle (Stevenson) Patterson, and arrived at the family homestead by a team of horses, bringing mother and son safely home.
George attended Longfellow School, a two-room schoolhouse, from age six through 8th grade. He graduated from Hampden Academy in 1952, where he participated as class president both junior and senior years, sang in operettas, played trombone in the band, and was on the baseball, football, and basketball teams.
Although George was an only child, he grew up with his many cousins, aunts and uncles, and other family members, some of whom lived at the Patterson Road farm over the years. He had a happy childhood on the farm sledding, building snow forts, skating, cross-country skiing along with many other activities and daily tasks on the dairy farm. He was a member of the Eastern Star Grange No. 1, first joining the Junior Grange when he was about 8 years old. During his teens, he worked at Freeses, Grant’s Dairy, for the Town of Hampden, and as a mason tender.
George wanted to become a pilot in the Air Force, but his eyesight ruled that out, so he headed to the University of Maine in Orono, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Later in his career, he attended George Washington University, graduating with a Masters in Engineering Administration in 1972.
In June 1956, his career began at the Flight Test Division of the Naval Air Test Center at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, where the latest aircraft were being tested by the best naval aviators. His first assignment was to determine the flight characteristics of the Chance Vought F8U-1 Crusader. He joined the Naval Reserve in 1956 and completed basic training in Bainbridge, MD.
George lived in Lexington Park and Park Hall, Maryland with wife, Norma Gould Patterson, and daughters, Lynn and Carol. In 1960, he worked on a landing configuration project, which culminated in a presentation in Paris to a NATO aeronautical agency and later to AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics).
At PAX River, George was a talented member of the team working with future astronauts at the advent of the space program. He was in Class 19 of the Test Pilot Training Division of Naval Air Station, traveling to various aviation and NASA locations around the US. Through this experience, he met pilots from both the UK and Canada.
In 1961, George bought a share of a 1946 Luscombe 8A airplane, which he flew out of the Park Hall, MD airport, and later sold to buy a ½ share in a Piper PA-16-Clipper, and became a licensed private pilot. In 1966, he bought a 1951 Piper PA-20-Pacer, which he flew around much of the eastern U.S. He was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association.
George applied and was selected as the US Naval liaison in the testing phase of the development of the Vertical Take-off Jet (Harrier Jet). The group’s goal was to test and evaluate unique takeoff and landing characteristics on various surfaces. This three-nation evaluation included representation from France and the United Kingdom. In 1963 he moved to Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, England, studying the flying qualities and performance of the P.1127. He worked closely with John Warren, a British colleague participating in the project. This began a lifelong friendship between the Warren and Patterson families that continues to this day. During this period, George spent time traveling in Europe - Germany, France, Scotland, Italy - seeing the many sights.
While in England, George met Rosemary Buckley, sister-in-law to his colleague, Lt. Cdr James Tyson, Jr. They married in August 1966 in Pachuta, MS and moved to Oxon Hill, MD, where George worked for the Army on a new helicopter built by Lockheed.
In 1971, George and Rosemary purchased an old farm property with a beautiful view of Mount Katahdin in Sherman Mills, ME. His mother was horrified to think they would decide to live in a place with squirrels in residence and trees growing in through the windows! They spent about 20 years rebuilding the house and barn, making it into a passive solar home. Over the years they spent in Northern Maine, George and Rosemary had both of their mothers living at their home. During that period, George was a member of the Southern Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District, served on the Board for the Katahdin Valley Health Center, and taught night classes at the local high school. Initially, he worked for J.M. Huber in Patten, ME as the Plant Engineer. After eight years, George left the plant and he and Rosemary opened their own business, Golden Ridge Wood Products, in the back of their old barn.
In 1991 they moved back to Hampden, ME to grow and expand their business at a facility in Brooks, ME. They lived in his childhood home, the Patterson Road farm, and operated the business until 1998, when George retired. He had a couple of fun part-time jobs in retirement at Aubuchon and Sears. After returning to Hampden, George became a member of the Hampden Historical Society, Penobscot County Genealogical Society, and the Peony Society of Maine. He lost his wife, Rosemary to kidney disease in 2006; they enjoyed 40 wonderful years of marriage.
Following, he reconnected with Judy Luro, a former girlfriend from Hampden, and found love and companionship and they married in December 2006. He enjoyed visiting with Judy’s children, Andy and Brian and their families during their marriage.
George had many stories to tell and these are only a few from the full and rich life he lived. A celebration of George’s life will take place at a later date at the family farm.
Gifts in his memory may be sent to the following:
Hampden Highlands United Methodist Church, 44 Kennebec Road, Hanpden, ME 04444
Hampden Historical Society, 83 Main Road South, Hampden, ME 04444
Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of George Patterson, please visit our flower store.
He was a beloved son, husband, father, friend, aviator, engineer, musician, genealogy researcher, lifelong learner fueled by curiosity. To know George was to have a friend.
George is survived by his wife, Juliet Baker Luro; daughters, Lynn P. Flagg and Carol P. Boynton (Mark); grandchildren, Sarah Flagg, Michael P. Flagg, Emily L. Boynton, Sam P. Boynton, Mary E. Boynton Healy, Maggie R. Boynton; and great-granddaughter, Nora Claire Healy; his aunt, Edna Stevenson; Judy’s sons, Andy Luro (Cynthia) and Brian Luro (Anjelique); and their children, Scott, Kristina, Peter, Brooke and Alec; along with many cousins and relatives in Maine and across the country.
On the record-setting cold and snowy night of February 10, 1934, George Amos Patterson, Jr. was born in Bangor to G. Amos Patterson, Sr. and Roxine Estelle (Stevenson) Patterson, and arrived at the family homestead by a team of horses, bringing mother and son safely home.
George attended Longfellow School, a two-room schoolhouse, from age six through 8th grade. He graduated from Hampden Academy in 1952, where he participated as class president both junior and senior years, sang in operettas, played trombone in the band, and was on the baseball, football, and basketball teams.
Although George was an only child, he grew up with his many cousins, aunts and uncles, and other family members, some of whom lived at the Patterson Road farm over the years. He had a happy childhood on the farm sledding, building snow forts, skating, cross-country skiing along with many other activities and daily tasks on the dairy farm. He was a member of the Eastern Star Grange No. 1, first joining the Junior Grange when he was about 8 years old. During his teens, he worked at Freeses, Grant’s Dairy, for the Town of Hampden, and as a mason tender.
George wanted to become a pilot in the Air Force, but his eyesight ruled that out, so he headed to the University of Maine in Orono, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Later in his career, he attended George Washington University, graduating with a Masters in Engineering Administration in 1972.
In June 1956, his career began at the Flight Test Division of the Naval Air Test Center at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, where the latest aircraft were being tested by the best naval aviators. His first assignment was to determine the flight characteristics of the Chance Vought F8U-1 Crusader. He joined the Naval Reserve in 1956 and completed basic training in Bainbridge, MD.
George lived in Lexington Park and Park Hall, Maryland with wife, Norma Gould Patterson, and daughters, Lynn and Carol. In 1960, he worked on a landing configuration project, which culminated in a presentation in Paris to a NATO aeronautical agency and later to AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics).
At PAX River, George was a talented member of the team working with future astronauts at the advent of the space program. He was in Class 19 of the Test Pilot Training Division of Naval Air Station, traveling to various aviation and NASA locations around the US. Through this experience, he met pilots from both the UK and Canada.
In 1961, George bought a share of a 1946 Luscombe 8A airplane, which he flew out of the Park Hall, MD airport, and later sold to buy a ½ share in a Piper PA-16-Clipper, and became a licensed private pilot. In 1966, he bought a 1951 Piper PA-20-Pacer, which he flew around much of the eastern U.S. He was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association.
George applied and was selected as the US Naval liaison in the testing phase of the development of the Vertical Take-off Jet (Harrier Jet). The group’s goal was to test and evaluate unique takeoff and landing characteristics on various surfaces. This three-nation evaluation included representation from France and the United Kingdom. In 1963 he moved to Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, England, studying the flying qualities and performance of the P.1127. He worked closely with John Warren, a British colleague participating in the project. This began a lifelong friendship between the Warren and Patterson families that continues to this day. During this period, George spent time traveling in Europe - Germany, France, Scotland, Italy - seeing the many sights.
While in England, George met Rosemary Buckley, sister-in-law to his colleague, Lt. Cdr James Tyson, Jr. They married in August 1966 in Pachuta, MS and moved to Oxon Hill, MD, where George worked for the Army on a new helicopter built by Lockheed.
In 1971, George and Rosemary purchased an old farm property with a beautiful view of Mount Katahdin in Sherman Mills, ME. His mother was horrified to think they would decide to live in a place with squirrels in residence and trees growing in through the windows! They spent about 20 years rebuilding the house and barn, making it into a passive solar home. Over the years they spent in Northern Maine, George and Rosemary had both of their mothers living at their home. During that period, George was a member of the Southern Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District, served on the Board for the Katahdin Valley Health Center, and taught night classes at the local high school. Initially, he worked for J.M. Huber in Patten, ME as the Plant Engineer. After eight years, George left the plant and he and Rosemary opened their own business, Golden Ridge Wood Products, in the back of their old barn.
In 1991 they moved back to Hampden, ME to grow and expand their business at a facility in Brooks, ME. They lived in his childhood home, the Patterson Road farm, and operated the business until 1998, when George retired. He had a couple of fun part-time jobs in retirement at Aubuchon and Sears. After returning to Hampden, George became a member of the Hampden Historical Society, Penobscot County Genealogical Society, and the Peony Society of Maine. He lost his wife, Rosemary to kidney disease in 2006; they enjoyed 40 wonderful years of marriage.
Following, he reconnected with Judy Luro, a former girlfriend from Hampden, and found love and companionship and they married in December 2006. He enjoyed visiting with Judy’s children, Andy and Brian and their families during their marriage.
George had many stories to tell and these are only a few from the full and rich life he lived. A celebration of George’s life will take place at a later date at the family farm.
Gifts in his memory may be sent to the following:
Hampden Highlands United Methodist Church, 44 Kennebec Road, Hanpden, ME 04444
Hampden Historical Society, 83 Main Road South, Hampden, ME 04444
Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com
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