William Carpenter Patten

William Carpenter Patten, 97, of West Chester, PA passed away Sunday March 8, 2026 at Wellington at Hershey's Mill in West Chester.

He was the husband of the late Mary Jane Zehner Patten and the late Barbara Saxon Elliott Patten.

Born July 8, 1928 in Philadelphia, PA he was the son of the late William S. and the late Katherine Carpenter Patten.                                               

Bill grew up in Havertown, PA and graduated from Haverford High School in 1946 and Dartmouth College in 1950.  He also received his Master’s in History from University of Delaware. 

Bill served in the army from 1951 – 1953 and was stationed in Korea.

He taught Social Studies in the Oxford Area School District, Downingtown Area School District, West Chester Area School District, but spent most of his career teaching at Brandywine High School in the Brandywine School District, from which he retired in 1988.  While at Brandywine he served as Department Chair as well as Athletic Director.  He also coached girls’ tennis and girls’ softball.

Bill was a past member of Westminster Presbyterian Church.

He enjoyed gardening, playing bridge, playing and watching tennis and camping.  He was active in the Boy Scouts, where he shared his love of camping and the outdoors with many young men.  He loved to laugh and had a great wit and enjoyed a good joke and a good beer, or even a not-so-good beer.  

Bill is survived by sons Theodore Patten, of Newark DE and Daniel C Patten of Dallas, TX,  daughter, Amy Patten Bailey of Wilmington, DE, step-daughter Sue Duggan (Tim) of Southampton, PA, step-sons Bruce Elliott (Stephanie) of Plumsteadville, PA and Stephen Elliott of Mont Clare, PA. and granddaughters Melissa Elliott Putz (Connor) of Perkasie, PA  and Samantha Elliott of Las Vegas, NV.  He is also survived by sisters Linda Patten Fenton of Jupitor, FL and Martha Patten Lodge of Durham, NC and brother David C Patten (Connie) of West Chester, PA as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.  

Relatives and friends are invited to his visitation on Saturday, March 21, 2026 from 9:00 am - 9:45 am at DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. 410 North Church Street West Chester, PA 19380, followed by his Funeral Service at 10:00 am.

Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to any charity of choice.

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. of West Chester, PA 610-696-1181; www.DellaFH.com