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Patterson -- Hilda Spivey Patterson died Thursday, May 6, 1999. Born to Hilda and Tony Reed Spivey July 24, 1924 in Olmstead, Arkansas. Survived by husband, Hubert Patterson; sons, Robert Alan and Thomas Reed Patterson of Albuquerque; and daughter, Dana Jean Patterson Roth, son-in-law, John Albert Roth, grandchildren, Kyndra Anne Patterson Roth and Micah Reed Patterson Roth, all of Placitas; one brother, Thomas Reed Spivey of Tillamook, Oregon; one sister-in-law in Florida; many nieces and nephews in Oregon, Washington, Florida and Maryland; and numerous cousins in California, Arkansas and New Jersey. Predeceased by father, Tony R. Spivey, June 1975; sister, Louise Spivey, November 1990; mother, Hilda Spivey, September 1996, at 95 years; and sister-in-law, Betty Hathaway Spivey, April 20, 1999. Hilda and"Pat" moved to Albuquerque in 1948 from Inyokern, California. Hilda became involved in PTA where she served as Safety Chairman for three years. She spear-headed a program which resulted in enactment of two school safety crossing issues in New Mexico. In 1963, she joined the staff of the Heights YMCA and began 32 years of teaching swimming in both the YMCA and Red Cross programs. Always a catalyst, she taught classes in community and home pools where no classes had been previously offered. She worked with 4-H and neighborhood groups, as well as taking part every summer in the Red Cross Learn-To-Swim campaigns in city pools and in Corrales. Certified as Instructor Trainer in Adaptive Aquatics, she conducted the class for 3 1/2 years at UNM. She taught Adaptive Aquatics seminars at Carlsbad School for the Blind in Alamagordo and at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. When Hilda and Pat moved to Livingston, Tennessee in 1977, after retirement from Sandia Labs, they attended a Red Cross Aquatic school where she became certified as a First Aid instructor and Pat as a Small Craft Instructor. They taught Learn-To-Swim and water safety each summer until 1990. During those years Hilda introduced water safety classes into the local high school, Livingston Academy. Hilda was recognized by the National Safety Council and awarded their appreciation Award, one of 25 presented in the US that year. The following year Red Cross acknowledged her contribution to water safety programs with the prestigious Clara Barton Honor Award for Meritorious Volunteer. Pat and Hilda returned to New Mexico in 1991 where they made their home at Mid-Valley Air Park, Los Lunas enjoying their retirement among an extraordinary group of neighbors. She helped organize the Mid-Valley Women's Association and served as its first president. She and Pat were active in the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles Program, with its goal of introducing one million young people to aviation by 2003 (the 100 year anniversary of the Wright brother's first, sustained, controlled flight by powered aircraft). Hilda was a caring and devoted mother, wife and friend, with the energy and ability to get things done. She touched the hearts of all the knew her and she will be deeply missed by her family and friends. A gathering for family and friends will be at the home 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 15. If desired, memorial donations may be made to the New Mexico Boys and Girls Ranch, 6209 Hendrix Rd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110.
        Published on: Sat May 08, 1999