Russell William Patterson, 87, passed away peacefully on Reformation Day, October 31, 2015. He was the son of Everett Hale Patterson and Edna Marie Bernicke Patterson.

He leaves to mourn his wife of 61 years, Marlene Gerken Patterson; and one son, Daniel Russell. A son, Samuel Jay, preceded him in death in 2013.

He spent most of his lifetime in the retail drug store business. He began by helping his father mop the floors for 50 cents a day when he was in grade school. Russ attended and graduated from St. Paul Lutheran School here in Napoleon.

He graduated from Napoleon High School in 1946. He was the annual photographer for Napoleon High School all four years. He developed his own prints having been taught by his father. Many evenings he could be found developing prints for the yearbook at the school late at night. He also worked after school for the Frank Schaff Drug Store during his high school days.

He received the Napoleon Schools Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame award in 2010, having been nominated by Mary Fran Meekison.

Upon graduating from Napoleon High School, he and his buddy headed to California in a jalopy to find a job. While there they headed to the post office to send a postcard back home to let Mom know they had arrived, they were approached by a Marine recruiter and both of the boys got hooked. They signed up and were shipped back across the country, where they were enlisted at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

After World War II ended, Russell took advantage of the G.I. Bill, graduated from Ohio Northern University and became a registered pharmacist. Russell was mentored by Frank Schaff during his college years. Upon the passing of Mr. Schaff, Russell owned and operated Napoleon Pharmacy at 719 N. Perry St. beginning in 1959. In 1968, he moved Napoleon Pharmacy to 705 N. Perry St. He retired in 2005.

He had plenty of time then to pursue his love and devotion to history. He was a charter member of Henry County Historical Society, where he helped co-create three volumes of Henry County history. He had a vast collection of old photos of Napoleon and Henry County. He loved collecting old photos, would go to auctions to find them and eventually many people would give them to him. He also loved to give lectures to groups and organizations about the old days of Henry county and Napoleon, and enjoyed gardening, planting trees and feeding birds.

Russ was proud to be selected to detonate the dynamite blast that blew up the Maumee River Bridge. He could talk for hours on the early bridges of Napoleon and he would show the video of the explosion to anyone who stopped by his house.

He is responsible for the two State of Ohio historical markers in Napoleon. One is placed at Ritter Park for Camp Latty, and the other is at the City Building on State Route 424.

He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Napoleon, and Bert G. Taylor American Legion Post #300.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015, at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Interment will follow at the church cemetery, where military honors will be accorded by the Napoleon Joint Veteran Posts. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 2-8 p.m. at Rodenberger Funeral Home, Napoleon, and Wednesday from 10-11 a.m. at the church.

Memorials are suggested to St. Paul Lutheran Church, St. Paul Lutheran Youth House or Henry County Historical Society.

Online condolences may be made at www.rodenbergerfuneralhome.com.