James Leeland Patton

James Leeland Patton, age 86, of Wilmington, DE, died Saturday, May 26, 2018.

He was born in 1932 in Mt. Vernon, OH, the son of the late Harold Smith Patton and Beatrice Sloan Patton. Jim graduated from the University of Tennessee with a master’s degree in chemical engineering in 1954. He was immediately hired by DuPont and made his primary home in Wilmington. He was proud of the key role he played in the early effort to commercialize Nafion® perfluoro-ionomer which has replaced mercury and asbestos in chlor-alkali cells, a major advance in reducing environmental hazards. Jim was a co-inventor on two patents related to forming plastic auto body panels. Later in his career, Jim was head of a new venture analysis group and a Senior Consultant within the Electronics Department, where he improved organizational effectiveness.

After retiring from DuPont, Jim started Patton Associates, Inc., a firm instrumental in helping organizations achieve greater productivity through effective communication and aligned strategies. He worked closely with Vertex, Inc., for many years, helping the business to achieve organizational excellence.

He was a man who touched many lives through his integrity and kindness. A role model and mentor, Jim taught Systematics at the University of Delaware’s Academy of Life Long Learning, taught the philosophies of Geirdjief and Bennett to his peers at the Country House retirement community, and authored two books. Jim was a dedicated volunteer and received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his positive contribution to the overall success of Connecting Generations, an in-school mentoring program, where he was a founding member and held leadership roles for over two decades. Jim was Vice-Chairman of Open Connections Village, an innovative resource center for families home-schooling their children. In addition, Jim was Chairman of the Board of DuVersity, an educational institution dedicated to revealing the equality of humankind. He was a loyal member of Christ Church Christiana Hundred, where he served on the Vestry and as a Stephen Minister.

His passions were his children and grandchildren, sailing, travel, and tennis. Later in life, he became a talented artist and illustrated a children’s picture book.

Jim was predeceased by his wife Deborah Craig Patton. He is survived by his children James L. Patton Jr. (Kathleen Patton) of Wilmington, Hugh C. Patton (Lilly Patton) of Brooklyn, Eleanor Stuart Patton (Kevin Kinsella) of San Francisco, his three grandchildren Kelly Klein (Ricky Klein), Diana Patton (Katie Love-Cooksey) and Vivienne Patton, and his great-granddaughter Nora Klein, all of whom he shared with his former spouse Eleanor C. Brown. Jim is also survived by his brother Willard T. Patton (Nell Patton) and two stepsons Andy Haon (Claudia Haon) of Seattle and Jay Haon (Mary Haon) of Philadelphia.

The family thanks the nurses and staff at The Country House and the caregivers from Home Instead for their loving care.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at Christ Church Christiana Hundred, 505 E. Buck Rd., Greenville, DE 19807. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Jim’s name to Connecting Generations, 100 W. 10th St., Suite 1115, Wilmington, DE 19801 (http://connecting-generations.org/) or to Christ Church Christiana Hundred, 505 Buck Rd, Wilmington, DE 19807 (http://www.christchurchde.org/serve/giving/give-online/).