Ralph Patterson,

Ralph M. Patterson, Jr., 74, former State Senator for North Little Rock, died on the afternoon of March 3, 2011 at Baptist Hospital Springhill surrounded by his family. Ralph was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas to Dr. Ralph M. Patterson, Sr., and Helen Stitt Patterson. He was the oldest of three children. His father was a doctor in the Army and was stationed at Hickham Field near Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941 when it was attacked by the Japanese precipitating World War II. Ralph wrote about this childhood experience recounting his vivid memories of the bombing and his recollections were published in multiple magazine articles. He was also a skilled writer of fiction and possessed an absolute mastery of the English language.
A graduate of Henderson State University and the old Arkansas Law School at Little Rock, Senator Patterson also studied at Vanderbilt University, Texas A & M and Centenary College at Shreveport, La. Ralph graduated law school in 1968 and began private practice. That same year he was elected President of the North Little Rock Jaycees and then was elected State Representative. In 1972 he was elected to serve as the first State Senator for a newly created district exclusively representing the City of North Little Rock. Ralph served as State Senator until 1978.
Senator Patterson is survived by his three children and five grandchildren: his daughter, Lyndli Patterson Hart and her son Henry Robert Hart, daughter, Cecily Patterson Skarda and her daughter Sophie Rose Skarda and son Samuel Patterson Skarda, and his son, Ralph M. "Trey" Patterson, III and his two daughters, Ashton Bailey Patterson and Olivia Noel Patterson.
Ralph loved his children, grandchildren, politics, the City of North Little Rock and practicing law. In later years, he was never happier than when boating with family and friends or relaxing with them on the beach at Gulf Shores, Alabama. He once followed the McClellan-Kerr Navigation Project in his small cabin cruiser all the way from its beginning at the port of Catoosa through Arkansas and into the Mississippi River. He later traced the Mississippi River on his boat all the way from North Little Rock to New Orleans and back.
Ralph cared deeply about people and was a loyal friend to many. He was truly loved and he touched many lives. He had a lifelong desire to help people, and always found ways to give his time, knowledge and ability to help those in need. Ralph was full of life, charisma and energy, and his friends and family always knew a good time would be had when he was around.
A celebration of Ralph's life will be held at Spectator's Grill and Pub in North Little Rock on Saturday, March 5th at 1:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held at Lakewood United Methodist Church in North Little Rock on Monday, March 6th at 5:00 p.m.
Arrangements by Sherwood Funeral Home, 7515 Warden Rd., Sherwood, (501)835-9200. Ralph's online guestbook may be signed at www.sherwoodfuneralhome.com.