Popular Caterer For 47 Years Oliver H. Patton Dead At 81
Times Picayune  03-16-1996

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Made red beans for ReaganOliver H. Patton, founder of Patton's Caterers, died
Thursday at his Slidell home. He was 81.

Born and raised in New Orleans, Mr. Patton lived in Chalmette for 18 years
before moving to Slidell in 1981.

Mr. Patton and his wife, Shirley, operated Patton's Fine Foods, a 9th Ward
grocery store and catering business, from 1949 to 1963. In 1963, they opened
Patton's Caterers in Chalmette.

Over the years, the business, now operated by the Pattons' five children, has
served red beans and rice to former President Ronald Reagan, catered the
Freeport/McDermott Golf Classic and had the exclusive catering contract at the
Olympic Trials in New Orleans.

Mr. Patton graduated from E.D. White High School in New Orleans and attended
Delgado Community College. He worked at Delta Shipyard during World War II.

In 1985, Mr. Patton was named Man of the Year by the St. Bernard Business and
Professional Women's Club.

In 1986, he was chairman of the St. Bernard Crippled Children and Adults
Society's fund-raising drive and was king of the Krewe of Lourdes. He was a
member of the Arabi and Chalmette Lions clubs.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley Conrad Patton; two daughters, Gail Heinz
and Patricia Bacharach; three sons, Thomas, Timothy and Terry Patton; 14
grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be held today at 11 a.m. at St. Bernard Memorial Funeral Home,
3710 Paris Road, Chalmette. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Burial will be in
St. Bernard Memorial Gardens.