Wayne Allen Patton

Reverend Wayne Allen Patton of Carmel, Indiana ran enthusiastically into the arms of his Savior on Friday, July 23, 2021 after 92 years of love, laughter, and selfless ministry here on earth. We rejoice, knowing that he is at the gates of heaven reunited with his loving wife Norma, members of his family, and the countless souls he shepherded during his life.

Wayne was born on February 27, 1929 in Berea, Kentucky to Russell R. and Luella Adeline Patton. He was a loving and protective older brother to his two sisters Margaret (Therkelsen) and Edith (Stamper). As a young boy growing up in the hills of Kentucky, his adventuresome spirit led him and his young comrades into many outlandish escapades – the stuff Kentucky folklore is made of. These tales and others made their way into a rich collection of stories from Wayne’s life that he recently chronicled – his final precious gift to his family.

Wayne went on to become a talented multi-sport high school athlete with a particular passion for basketball. He attended Kentucky Wesleyan College (1947-’49), Asbury College (1949-’51, Bachelor of Arts), Asbury Seminary (1951-‘53/’55, Bachelor of Divinity), Temple School of Theology (1953-’54), and Louisville Presbyterian (1960-’64, Master of Theology). It was at Asbury where he first spotted the inimitable and striking Norma Jean Hicks in a yearbook photo, and sought her out for a first date. In the months that followed, their conversations flowed easily over Coca Colas and 5-cent hot dogs (because Wayne never passed up a bargain). Their mutual love for the Lord united them and they were married on August 30, 1954. Theirs was a partnership and love story that inspired everyone they met for the next 65 years.

Wayne faithfully followed divine promptings in every season of his life. With Norma by his side, his calls to ministry included building a church from the ground up in the Appalachian mountains, trekking through the country in a tiny airstream trailer to hold countless revivals and tent meetings, and serving as a Methodist minister for numerous churches in the Kentucky and Indiana Conferences for 28 years. His remarkable career later included working with the Institute for American Church Growth and founding Outreach Ministries Incorporated. After he officially retired, Wayne served one final church – Salem United Methodist Church in Zionsville, Indiana, and the people of this congregation always held a special place in his heart.

Wayne was the type of Reverend who always answered the phone (even at 2 AM for a parishioner in crisis), and always answered the door (even for a couple who wanted to be married on the spot – which he did). He was particularly passionate about the importance and power of prayer. If you knew Wayne Patton, chances are you have been specifically prayed for by him. Wayne also made a profound impact on the spiritual lives of many through his writing, most notably in his book entitled “The Divine Visitor,” now in its second printing. Wayne was both scholar and servant; he balanced impressive theological intellect with genuine childlike faith. But don’t get us wrong, he never missed an opportunity to mention that he was a man of the cloth if it might merit a discount on a haircut, dishwasher or dessert.

When it came to his family, nothing brought Wayne more joy than his three children – Russell, Nancy and Eva, and his three grandchildren – Kara, Laura and Liz. He was fiercely protective and proud to be a Dad and a “Papaw.” His love for his children and grandchildren spilled over into a love for less-fortunate children. He was known for bundling up his three granddaughters at Christmas and taking them on his excursions to find children in need that he could surprise with an envelope of cash, as he told them with his warm smile, “God loves you.”

His commitment to Christ only deepened and his spirit only sweetened as he lived this last season of life. When his beloved Norma Jean entered heaven in January of 2020, he rejoiced that she had received her eternal reward. During the past year and a half, he has been a magnificent example of faith and resilience to all of us in his family as he navigated the strange and often solitary days of the pandemic without her by his side, and he did so with unyielding grace, kindness and positivity. He never stopped reaching out to others; he loved his caregivers at Sunrise on Old Meridian like family and he was known for stopping them on their rounds to ask them how they were doing, and to pray for them.

We will miss his booming laugh around the dinner table and how he wove the phrase ‘lo and behold’ into every story. We will miss traveling with him to the Holy Land, Myrtle Beach (heaven on earth according to Wayne), and Brown County. At Christmas, we will miss the conviction with which he always sang “The First Noel” a few stanzas too early at the Christmas Eve service, his signature pecan brittle, and his sacrosanct telling of the Christmas story complete with Santa hat and his own improvisational details.

We will miss him terribly. But we do not grieve without hope, because we know that we will walk the shores of glory – together with him – someday too, and in the meantime, he has been greeted with the warmest heavenly welcome: Well done, good and faithful servant.

Wayne’s spirit lives on in his son Rev. Russell Patton (Kim); daughters Nancy Palmer (Bill), and Eva Patton; granddaughters Liz Erb (Brock), Laura Graham (Jeffrey), and Kara Bender (Peter); and great granddaughter Nora Lyn Bender.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 28, 2021 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at Carmel United Methodist Church, Carmel, Indiana. A celebration of life service will follow at 12:00 PM.

If you wish to honor Wayne with a donation, please consider the Asbury University (or Seminary) Student Scholarship Fund (Asbury.edu/giving), or the United Methodist Children’s Home (iumch.org) – both causes close to his heart.