John D. Patty, 77, passed away on May 27, 2026. Born on October 29, 1948, in Gaffney, South Carolina, John lived a life defined by service, dedication, and deep love for his family and country.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Hazel Duvall Patty and Juney Walter Patty.
A proud graduate of Gaffney High School, John answered the call to serve his nation by joining the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. From 1967 to 1970, he served aboard L.S.T. (Landing Ship Tank) 1032, patrolling the Mekong Delta region of South Vietnam. During his military career, he atained the rank of Petty Officer Third Class and proudly served all 32 months of his deployment in Vietnam. His military service
remained one of the proudest accomplishments of his life.
Following his return home, John attended Cleveland Technical Institute and went on to build a career marked by hard work and determination. Over the years, he owned an auto parts store, worked in sales, and served as the Veteran’s Affairs Officer for York County, South Carolina. He later became a truck driver before retiring in 2016.
In 1989, John became actively involved in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), where he dedicated countless hours advocating for and supporting fellow veterans. He held numerous leadership positions at both the local and state levels, including Post Quartermaster and Commander in Gaffney. Within the Department of South Carolina, he served as Judge Advocate, Inspector, Junior Vice Commander, and Senior Vice Commander before being elected State Commander of South Carolina for 1997–1998, representing more than 20,000 VFW members across the state. He was also a member of the American Legion and the Masonic Lodge.
John will be remembered for his generous spirit, fantastic sense of humor, and his ability to make friends wherever he went. He never met a stranger and was always willing to lend a helping hand to someone in need.
Outside of his service and work, John enjoyed golfing, camping, and following motorsports. After returning home from Vietnam, he spent years building and racing dirt track cars alongside family and friends at racetracks throughout the Southeast, winning a total of 77 races. Racing remained one of his lifelong passions. On Sunday afternoons, everyone knew where John would be – watching the race. He also enjoyed riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
John is survived by his loving wife, Sylvia “Gaye” Patty; his daughter, Nealy Patty Wheat and husband Nathan of Tampa, Florida; his son, John D. Patty II and wife Amy of Rock Hill, South Carolina; his stepson, Michael West and wife Dawn of Rock Hill, South Carolina; his sister, Julia Patty Pace; four grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; two nieces; and one nephew. He was preceded in death by a step-grandson.
Visitation and funeral services will be held at Greene Funeral Home, 2133 Ebenezer Road, Rock Hill, SC, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. Visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m., with the funeral service following at 11:30 a.m. Burial will immediately follow at Grandview Memorial Gardens Hollis Lakes in Rock Hill.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.com.
Condolences can be made at www.greenefuneralhome.net.