Donald Jay Patten

Donald Jay Patten, age 88, of Kettering passed away Wednesday, June 17, 2026. He was a graduate of Akron University and Kent State University earning both a Civil Engineering degree and a Masters degree in Business Administration. Don worked as an engineer for over 35 years for The Burger Iron Company. In his retirement, he proudly started his own concrete company. Patten Construction kept him busy for many years before he retired again. Don was a soldier in the United States Army Reserves. He was also a member of Lone Star Fraternity, The Eagles 321 and was also a Mason.

Don was extremely smart with math, figuring most any answer in his head. None of us could ever come close to his expertise. He loved to cook and make a mess, watch tv, listen to music, go to camp with Ben, look at trees, watch for birds on his patio and to feed his chipmunk, Junior. He was a great dad. He sat with us for hours at the kitchen table to help us with our math homework and made us erase and rewrite our numbers so they were perfect. When he taught us how to drive, he told us we could wear out the tread on the tires in one afternoon. We would laugh as we said, “Okay, Dad.” Don had a giant sweet tooth, loved any kind of pie and spice cake. He loved bloody marys and manhattans. He loved rain, the smell of it and listening to it. He liked Daffy Duck, the Roadrunner and The Peanuts. Thanksgiving was his favorite day of each year. Every year at Easter time, he would repeat “Hold on to the bottom of the cup!” as he watched us dye eggs in the garage. He always hid lots of the eggs and enjoyed watching to see if we could find them all. If he ever noticed us doing something we shouldn’t, he would say “Would we?” as he raised his eyebrows staring at us. He always told us all to “Have a good time!” Don loved his Mercedes that Ben found for him. He insisted on getting dressed for each day although he knew he wasn’t going anywhere, enjoyed his coffee every morning and always called Ginger, Chunk.

While we mourn his passing, we celebrate and are very grateful for his remarkable, long life and all the time we had with him. We will miss everything about him-his quiet strength, calmness, dependability, consistency, stability, foresight and advice. Don was so strong and never complained. He taught us how to work. Our demeanor, stability and strong work ethic are straight from him. Throughout all of his health challenges, he moved through it all with fierce determination and independence and always somehow maintained a positive attitude. None of us understood how he did it.

Preceded in death by his parents Carl and Irene Patten and his special dog companion, Cooper. He is survived by his former wife, Debbie Patten, son, Benjamin Patten and his wife Lindsey, his daughter, Ginger Patten and Christopher Powell, his daughter, Kathlene Schreffler and her husband Jim. Grandchildren, Heidi and Allison Patten, Faith Marquitz, Jamie Davis and her husband Trent and Jenna Schreffler.

The family will receive friends from 11:00a.m.-1:00p.m. on Friday, June 26, 2026 at the Routsong Funeral Home, 81 North Main Street, Centerville, Ohio 45459. Service 1:00pm with Brian Bennett officiating. Burial to follow at David’s Cemetery.