The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Retired Naselle teacher, principal and coach Lyle R. Patterson passed away Oct. 19, 2013, after a long illness.

He was the son of Joseph and Florence Patterson, born Jan. 11, 1929, in a log cabin north of Spokane. Both of his parents died while he was young, and Lyle was raised by an aunt and an older brother. He graduated from South Haven High School in South Haven, Mich., in 1947.

Lyle joined the military in 1947 and served in the occupation of Japan. During the Korean War he flew 31 combat missions and received the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross for downing a MiG. He spent a total of 50 months in the Army Air Corps and the Air Force. He enjoyed traveling to reunions of the Air Force gunners and was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He proudly wore his Korean War ball cap everywhere.

Lyle married the love of his life, Elaine, Aug. 19, 1955. Together they had three boys, Wade (Kathy), Gordon (Carrie), and Dwight (Dana). Gordon was killed in 2009 in a bicycling accident. They had 11 grandchildren.

Lyle earned a bachelor of science degree from Wisconsin State University in LaCrosse, Wis., in 1955 and a master's degree from Western Michigan University in 1960.

Lyle taught at two schools in Michigan and moved to Naselle in 1962, where he stayed for 41 years. He taught math and coached basketball, track and football. Lyle received the Washington Boys' Basketball Coach of the Year award for the 1985-1986 season. He later became principal of Naselle High School. He retired from the Naselle School district in 1997. Lyle was honored by the Naselle community in 2005, with the naming of the "Lyle Patterson Gym" at Naselle High School.

After his retirement, Lyle coached two years at Knappa High School in Oregon and took them on to win the state championship both years. He also coached women's basketball for a year at Lower Columbia College. In 2002, Coach Patterson was elected to the Washington State Boys' Basketball Hall of Fame for his outstanding record of 623 career wins (the second-highest total for a Washington coach at the time of Lyle's retirement) vs. 220 losses.

He was an active member of the Congregational Church in Naselle until 2003, and the First Baptist Church in Longview since that time. He was active in the Gideons and was a Sunday school teacher.

A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. Nov. 9 at the First Baptist Church in Longview. Arrangements are by Columbia Funeral Service.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Lyle's honor may be made to Gideons International or the Naselle Comets Booster Club for the boys' basketball team.