Roger Alan Patty

Roger Alan Patty, 76, of St. Cloud, Florida, passed away peacefully at his home on October 10, 2025.

Born on July 11, 1949, in Des Moines, Iowa, Roger grew up in Freeport and Rock Island, Illinois. He graduated from Rock Island High School with the Class of 1967. In 1969, he married the love of his life, Victoria Lea Hines, and together they shared 52 wonderful years of marriage until her passing in 2021.

That same year, Roger was drafted into the United States Army, proudly serving his country in Vietnam. After his honorable discharge, he and Vicki returned to Rock Island, where Roger began his long and dedicated career. He worked for Downings Dairy, White-Rodgers, and later J.I. Case from 1972 to 1989, where he also served as a Union Steward for UAW Local 806 and worked in the Union Placement Center following the plant’s closure.

In 1989, Roger earned his Associate’s Degree in Electronics from Hamilton Tech. He went on to work at Bayer Diagnostics from 1989 to 2002, during which time he and his family relocated first to Memphis, Tennessee in 1990, then to North Attleboro, Massachusetts in 1997, and finally to DeLand, Florida in 2003. Roger continued his career with DeLand Chevy, RC Hill Mitsubishi, and Walmart before retiring in 2016.

Roger was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Victoria; his son, Michael Steven Patty; his parents, Irene (Harter) Patty and Roger Eugene Patty, and brother-in-law Vern Broadfield.

He is survived by his son Jeffrey Alan (Jennifer) Patty; grandchildren Jacob and Emma Patty; sister Carolyn Broadfield; sister-in-law Kathy (Jim) Granger; brother-in-law Russell (Maureen) Hines; nieces Elizabeth Gartman and Katie Granger; and nephews Matt, Dan, and David Broadfield, Scott, Brad, and Darren Hines.

Throughout his life, Roger had a wide range of interests that reflected his fun-loving and curious spirit. As a teenager, he loved working on his ’65 Chevelle. In his younger years, he enjoyed bowling leagues and Euchre tournaments, and later in life, he found joy in woodworking, bead art, jigsaw puzzles, and online puzzle games. He also spent many hours watching YouTube videos about music and racing—favorites including Tom Bailey, Steve Morris, Alex Taylor, and Cleetus McFarland.

Roger was an avid fan of NASCAR, especially Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jr., as well as the Tampa Bay Rays, New England Patriots, and Chicago Cubs. He loved drag racing and admired legends like Don Garlits, John Force, and Clay Millican. His playlists were filled with the sounds of 1950s and 1960s classics and ’90s country hits.

Known for his quick wit and endless humor, Roger was the king of “Dad Jokes” long before the term was coined. He often described himself as a “virtual cornucopia of absolutely useless information,” and anyone who spent time with him knew how true that was—he could make you laugh, learn, and shake your head, all in the same sentence.

A visitation for Roger will be held on Sunday, October 19th at 2:00 p.m. at Lankford Funeral Home, 220 E. New York Ave, DeLand, Florida 32724, followed by a procession to Oakdale Cemetery, 531 W. Oakdale Ave, DeLand, for a graveside service at 3:30 p.m. A reception will follow, with details to be announced at the service.

Roger’s warmth, humor, and kindness will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.