Richard Lee Patterson

Richard (Dick) Patterson10/21/39 – 4/5/2026

Dick Patterson, of Topeka, KS, passed away peacefully at Midland Hospice House, surrounded by his family after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

He grew up on a farm in Tecumseh, Kansas and learned early on the importance of teachers and community influence on kids. He played football while attending Highland Park High School and earned an athletic scholarship to continue playing football and studying at Washburn University. He earned his Bachelor of Education at Washburn and master’s degree in administration from the University of Kansas. His first teaching position was with the 8th grade in McLouth. He then taught and coached football at Curtis Junior High before moving to Topeka High to continue teaching and coaching. From there, he helped open Shawnee Mission Northwest. Afterward, he returned to Topeka High as the Head Football Coach. Transitioning from coaching to administration, he joined Washburn Rural High School and later returned once again to Topeka High. His final position was as principal of Lawrence High School, where he retired from public education. He then became Head of School at Topeka Collegiate. He was inducted into the Highland Park High School and Topeka High School Halls of Fame. He devoted 50 years of his life to education and through that many students, teachers and athletes benefitted from knowing him.

Nothing meant more to him than his family. We will all tell Dick Patterson stories for generations to come; he was larger than life. He and Martha Hammig were married on April 15th, 1962, they would have celebrated their 64th Wedding Anniversary this year. Martha survives of the home. They had two daughters, Leslie (Brian) McCaffrey of Lawrence, KS and Jodie (Brad) Winfrey of Prairie Village, KS. They have four grandchildren, Brandon (Hannah) McCaffrey, Maddie (Lucas) Whatley, Simon McCaffrey and Emmerson Winfrey.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Pat Mahoney and Alice Lloyd, and two Great Granddaughters, Harper McCaffrey and Quinn McCaffrey.

A celebration of life will be held at First United Methodist Church in Topeka, KS on Saturday, April 25th at 11:00 AM. A family visitation will be held at the church at 10:00AM preceding the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his honor to one of the following:

The Topeka High Historical Society

The Ichabod Athletic Fund - Football Program Fund

The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center