George Joseph Patnode Jr

George J. Patnode, JR. Newport, RI - George J. Patnode, Jr., 91, of 5 Hunter Avenue, Newport, RI, formerly of Providence, Warwick and Cranston before coming to Newport in 1933, died Monday, October 27, 2008 at Newport Hospital with his children by his side. He was the husband of Eleanor Geer Patnode and the late Barbara Garden Patnode who passed away October 31, 1990. Born in Newark, NJ on June 3, 1917, he was the son of the late George J. and Agnus Wiley Patnode. Mr. Patnode was a 1936 graduate of Rogers High School where he was on the Track and Cross Country team and also started a singing trio with his brother Raymond and David Ebbitt. He was in the Army during World War II, receiving the Purple Heart when he served with the 114th Bomb Disposal Company under General George S. Patton. George worked for Newport Electric for 45 years as a line foreman retiring in 1982. He was a communicant of St. Josephs Church and was a member of the Kawanias of Newport, the Elks Lodge #104 of Newport, the V.F.W. of Newport and the local 335 Brotherhood of Utility workers. George was past president of the Newport National Little League and Gooseberry Beach Association. He started the Newport Youth Hockey in 1973 and was involved with it until the spring of 2007 and also ran Sachuest Skating Club from 1953 until 2007. George was inducted into the Newport Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 and St. Georges Hall of Fame on November 13, 1998 . Besides his wife, he is survived by his sons, Arthur Patnode of Newport, RI and George Patnode of Orange, MA, his daughter, Barbara Ring of Portsmouth, RI, his step-children, Therese Closterman and her husband Jay of Barnard, VT and David Geer of Narragansett, RI, his grandchildren Stephanie Broome of Tennessee, Rebekah Patnode, Barbara Patnode and Marjorie Patnode, all of California, and Patrick Ring of Portsmouth, RI, his great grandchildren, Haley Broome and R.J. Broome and his step-grandchildren, Ashley Closterman and William Closterman. He was the brother of the late Raymond Patnode, Marguerite Dube and Barbara Austin. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 10 am in St. Josephs Church, Broadway and Mann Avenue, Newport. Burial with Military Honors will be in Newport Memorial Park in Middletown. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 from 3-8 pm in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hasbro Childrens Hospital, 593 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02903.