June 15, 1928 – May 6, 2023
Ann Furst Patton, 94, passed away peacefully on May 6, 2023, at her residence at Bliss Place in Bedford, Indiana.
Born in Indianapolis on June 15, 1928, she was the daughter of Philip Furst and Margaret (Nold Benckart) Furst. She was a graduate of Bedford High School and Indiana University, with a BS in Recreation.
She was a tomboy from her time being named the most athletic girl in her high school senior class. She was very active in the Girl Scouts and was selected at age 18 as one of two girls in the US to participate in an international scout gathering at Our Chalet in Switzerland. During college, she worked at the Girl Scout camp as a counselor, lifeguard, and waterfront director. She also swam for the IU synchronized swimming team. Upon college graduation, she took a position with the Girls Scouts in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She returned to Bedford and was married to Donald Patton on November 7, 1953, who preceded her in death on November 17, 1998.
She was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and was active in a number of community organizations, most notably the Girl Scouts as a volunteer. She also loved the family cabin at Kenray Lake and spent her summer weekends there water skiing, canoeing, and enjoying the lake with friends and family. She was a lover of animals and a lifelong pet owner. She returned to Girl Scouting as a professional for Tulip Trace Council in Bloomington, Indiana. There she was very involved in volunteer training and enjoyed teaching new leaders outdoor skills. She was very at home in dirty jeans, cooking over an open campfire and leading nature hikes. She later earned a realtor’s license and owned and operated the Bedford Century 21 branch with her husband Don. She relocated to Jacksonville, Florida after his death but ultimately returned to Bedford in 2015.
Survivors include daughter Katherine Fisher (Aaron) of Breinigsville, PA; daughter Elizabeth Gilmore (Timothy) of Bedford; and son, Thomas (Andrea Pennell) of Jacksonville, FL; as well as grandchildren, Adrienne (Philadelphia, PA) and Joel Fisher (Brienigsville, PA), Arielle Sweeney (Ashland, MA), Niklas Siniard, and Lucas Gilmore (Bedford, IN), Abby McDermott (Oolitic, IN), Amelia Wood (St. Augustine, FL), and Jennifer Patton Fisher (Marysville, OH). She also has three great-granddaughters, Win Siniard of Bedford, Sadie Russell of Oolitic, and Irene Fisher (Marysville, OH).
She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Mary Lou Pendland; husband, Don Patton; daughters, Meg Patton and Mary Patton; grandson, Schuyler Wood; and nephews Michael Hanna and Robert Patton.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 12, 2023, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church with Father Jegan Peter and Deacon Dave Reising officiating. Burial will follow at Cresthaven Memory Gardens. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at The Ferguson-Lee Chapel of Thorne-George Family Funeral Homes.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to Lawrence County Humane Society or Girl Scouts USA.
Remembrances and condolences may be shared online at www.FergusonLee.com.
