Obituary for Robert L. Patton
The Ithaca Journal, Jul 1 2008, P. 4, Cols. 5-6
"ITHACA - Robert L. Patton, 94, formerly of Ithaca, died in Ann Arbor, Michigan on June 25th, 2008.
He was born in Livingston, Montana, to the late Alva L. and Annie L. Patton. He received a BS degree from Montana State College, Bozeman and a PhD degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He married Mary Louise Trask (1913-2000) on September 6th, 1938 in Deer Lodge, Montana.
In 1939, he joined the faculty at Cornell. His field was Insect Physiology, to which he contributed research, a textbook and mentored twenty-two graduate students, several of whom went on to become distinguished contributors as well. He was a pioneer in the field of electrophysiology as applied to insects, and in the early 1950's, using electro-mechanical equipment of his own design he was able to monitor activity of the nervous system of an insect, which was reported in Newsweek magazine. In 1978, he was named a Professor Emeritus, and in 2002, he was honored by Cornell with the creation of a permanent visiting lectureship, in his name.
He was skilled in ultra-micro chemistry, and during World War II, he was a member of the team which developed an extensible method for chemically isolating Plutonium 239. In 1948, he was cited by President Truman for this contribution to the war effort.
He was very active in scouting, serving as a troop leader and in other roles for which he was recognized by the Silver Beaver Award in 1981. He enjoyed playing the clarinet and was an accomplished woodworker.
He is survived by his son, James L. Patton (Carol) of Dexter, Michigan; his nephew, Beyer R. Patton of Golden, Colorado; his granddaughters, Elisabeth A. Freeland of Portland, Oregon, Dr. Susana R. Patton of Dexter and Catherine L. Patton of Madison, Wisconsin; as well as three great-granddaughters. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife; his brother, Alva R.; his son, Robert W.; and a granddaughter, Alice H.
A family Memorial Service will be held in Michigan. Burial will be at East Lawn Cemetery, Ithaca."