NORTH MANCHESTER – Opal Lee Patterson, 90, of North Manchester, died at 10:20 p.m. July 30, 2013, in Peabody Healthcare Center, North Manchester. She was born Feb. 8, 1923, in Tuscaloosa, Ala., to Grover Cleveland and Rachel Moore Tucker. On March 30, 1944, she married Paul E. Patterson, who died July 31, 1987. She was a member of North Manchester United Methodist Church. She graduated from Tuscaloosa High School in 1940, where she was a member of the National Honor Society. She worked at the University of Alabama as a secretary for four years. After she and her husband moved to North Manchester, she graduated from Manchester College in 1962 with distinction. She received her master’s degree in elementary education from St. Francis College, Fort Wayne, in 1969. She taught at Thomas Marshall Elementary School, Columbia City, and Chester Elementary School, North Manchester. She was a first-grade teacher in the Metropolitan School District of Wabash County from 1970-79. After retiring in 1979, she did private tutoring for adults. Surviving are a daughter, Diane M. (and spouse David) Ciolli, Springboro, Ohio; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by seven brothers and four sisters. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Peabody Chapel, North Manchester, with the Rev. Sue Babovec and Pastor Mark Eastway officiating. Burial will be in Oaklawn Cemetery, North Manchester. Calling is one hour prior to the service Friday at Peabody. McKee Mortuary, North Manchester, is in charge of arrangements. ***** Memorials may be made to Peabody Retirement Community Caring Circle, 400 W. 7th St., North Manchester, IN 46962; or North Manchester United Methodist Church, 306 E. 2nd St., North Manchester, IN 46962. Condolences may be sent via mckeemortuary.com
