Attica - Richard V. Pattengale, 94, Attica, passed away peacefully, following a short term illness, in the I.U. Health Arnett Hospital, Lafayette, on Monday, October 24, 2022 at 10:12 p.m.
Richard was the youngest son of fourteen children. He was the son of the late Thomas C. and Martha E. (Mowdy) Pattengale. He was born at home in Attica on September 23, 1928. He was a life long resident of Attica, Fountain County, Indiana, growing up on a small farm nearby. He graduated from Attica High School in 1948 and attended Indiana State University in Terre Haute. He joined the National Guard in the early 1950's. Richard was always very active in sports, including basketball, track and field. He later enjoyed playing golf at the Harrison Hills Country Club in Attica.
On August 8, 1954, Richard married Leticia A. Weigle in Attica and she preceded him in death on October 13, 2019. They resided the majority of their life on a farm outside of Attica, where they raised their two daughters. He was a devoted husband and father. Richard farmed, drove the school bus and was the rural mail carrier.
Richard was very active in the community. He and Leticia were Youth Leaders at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Riverside, active with Fountain County 4-H clubs, Lions Club, Attica First United Methodist Church and always the person you could call to help and lend a hand. He was elected to the Attica Consolidated School Corporation Board, serving in the early 1970's. Richard also enjoyed "playing cards', such as euchre, poker and bridge with friends.
Richard's passion was basketball. As a young boy he and his brothers would spend hours playing basketball. They first used a peach crate as the basket, then found a steel wheel, took spokes out, and put a gunnysack on it for a net. He was a starter on the seventh and eight grade teams when he was in the fifth grade. He was a starter from 1945-1948 for the Attica High School varsity team. In 1948, during his senior year, Attica went to the final game of the Wabash Valley tournament for the first time. They were defeated by Garfield High, however Richard was named the most valuable player in the tournament. After high school Coach John Wooden, the coach of Indiana State University at the time, recruited Richard to attend ISU. Unfortunately, Richard never got to play for Coach Wooden. Mr. Wooden was hired as the coach of UCLA right before Richard arrived. Richard played for the Sycamores for two years and in 1949 they won the NCAA tournament for small colleges. He later played for the Indian Bullets, a semi-pro team for two years after college, receiving $ 25 a game! Richard later began officiating high school basketball games, traveling all over Indiana for many years. Richard had a life well lived, being an overall caring, considerate person, wonderful husband and the best dad a girl could want.
Richard leaves behind his two daughters, Leandra (William) Funk, West Lafayette and Shari (Larry) Lewis, Winter Park, FL; four grandchildren, Corissa Funk & Christian (Julene) Funk; Ashley (Josh) Ammon and Alec Lewis; two great-grandchildren, Natalie & Austin; a sister, WaStella (Harold) VanDame, Attica. He was preceded in death by six brothers, twin Paul, Dale, Earl, William, Sylvester and Dwayne Pattengale; six sisters, Josephine Mortimore, twin Gertrude Lefton, Hazel Holycross, Luella Bell, Leeida Beedle and Beulah Biggs.
Friends may call at the Maus Funeral Home, Attica, on Tuesday, November 1st from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. A graveside service will be held in the Riverside Cemetery, Attica, on Wednesday, November 2nd at 11:00 a.m. with family sharing memories. Memorial contributions may be made to the Attica Community Foundation.