Patrick Eugene Todd

Patrick Eugene Todd was born October 7, 1937, in Great Falls MT to James Patrick Todd and Faye Eugena (Kinette) Todd. He passed away at home on November 8, 2025.

He was a very special person who touched many and will long be remembered. His life took him and his family to many locations around the world and state side.

He is survived by his wife Ann. daughter Patricia Payne, grandson Bradley Coleman. Three great grandchildren and nieces.

After graduating from Shelby MT High School in May of 1955, he enlisted in the Navy on August 19,1955. He went to boot camp at NTC (naval training center) San Diego CA. His 22-year naval career took him to both West and East coasts of the United States. Eight different ships and several bases in the US and around the world. After Boot Camp it was the West coast where he spent time in Alameda California aboard ship and then at NAS Alameda where he called bingo as night duty manager.

From the West coast he continued with a transfer to the USS Sandoval home ported on the East coast. Upon his second reenlistment he picked up a class at Great Lakes Illinois. While attending this diesel engine course at Great Lakes in 1964 he was introduced to Ann via a blind date. In December of that same year, they were married.

Big changes were introduced to this sailor’s life who always reminded us that we were not issued in his sea bag. Ann and Patricia (his daughter) joined in the transfer to the USS Hunley’s home port of Holy Lock Scotland. This was a dry dock support ship where US submarines pulled in for maintenance. This accompanied tour left the family living on the local economy in Denoon Scotland, no US base existed only this ship in the middle of the lock and to get to it a small boat carried the crew back and forth. Patricia attended the Catholic school. It was a very interesting and educational experience. It rained every day Most locals did not have a refrigerator, food was purchased daily from each separate market. Grocery stores like state side did not exist. While there it was time for the Hunley to change ports and on to Charleston South Carolina it sailed. Family moved to Charleston and while family stayed behind the Hunley crew sailed on to Guam. Another transfers took him aboard the USS Valcour (the only ship in the Navy painted white) where he boarded it in Norfolk Virginia as it collected the handpicked crew for a home port in Bahrain island located in the Persian Gulf. Here again the base was only a ship that sailed off into the sunset and made frequent stops at each place along the gulf where the admiral was welcomed by the local heads of state. Family moved to Bahrain and lived on the local economy. It was a little more challenging as the main spoken language was Arabic. Patricia was educated at the American dependent school. Many of the students were dependents of Aramco employees who worked on the American oil rigs out in the gulf.

On his shipboard trips to many port stops and tours, Pat took many pictures, collected pieces of furniture and many other treasures. This interesting ship life included unique stops in the gulf, India, Seychelles, Africa had come to an end and back to Great Lakes Illinois for another engineman school. Then on to Long Beach California for the family and catching another ship that had already left the port and was off the coast of Vietnam. This was a trying time as mom Todd was very ill and passed. After the funeral it was on to inland Vietnam before catching up with the ship again. Finally, a transfer for shore duty as a recruiter in San Diego and roots were put down for the family never to move again. Shore duty lasted for 4 years and a couple of ships after traveling the seas in the western pacific completing this military career as a Chief Engineman on May 20,1977 in San Diego, CA.

Joining the civilian workforce with Crown Chemical Corporation October 26, 1977, driving and servicing delivery trucks, with his final position as inventory clerk. Pat retired for the second time 25 years later with Brenntag West,

Because of the players and volunteers, he enjoyed being a caller of bingo at Blessed Sacrament Church Hall for 17 years.

He is preceded in death by his parents James & Faye Todd, sister Louise West, brother James Todd and grandson Andrew Coleman

You’re leaving us is a great loss, but we have had 60 plus years to share and enjoy your love and friendship. Upon leaving us your pain here on earth is gone. You suffered for many years. Most of the time in silence to not worry me.