Dorothy Mary Patterson

Dorothy M. Fleischer Patterson, 96, of New Castle, passed away on March 11, 2026, at UPMC Jameson Hospital.

Born on April 14, 1929, in New Castle to the late George and Martha Kreusel Fleischer, Dorothy graduated from New Castle High School in 1948. She worked at the candy counter of the New Castle G.C. Murphy & Co. before devoting herself to her family as a homemaker. She married Russell C. Patterson on November 23, 1961; he preceded her in death.

Dorothy found quiet joy in sewing, gardening, crossword puzzles, and word searches. She cherished her fruit trees, seasonal artificial flower bouquets, Western books, favorite television shows and movies, sketching house plans, and paging through cookbooks in search of new recipes. She was known for her exceptional meringue lemon pie, brown sugar tapioca, and chocolate fudge, and she prepared popcorn nearly every evening. A woman of deep and abiding faith, she was a former member of Third United Presbyterian Church.

She is survived by her daughter, Winfield (Vicki) Gilpin, her son, John R. Patterson, and her granddaughter, Jenise Brown (Jason Pampena). In addition to her husband, Dorothy was preceded in death by her five brothers, George, Karl, Albert, Paul, and Francis Fleischer, her sister, Sophia Fleischer, and her son-in-law, Russell Lee Brown. She was the last surviving member of her family.