Col. (Ret.) Clarence A. (Bud) Patnode, Jr.

June 1, 1932 - October 9, 2023

On October 9, 2023, Bud passed away at home with his beloved wife Elaine at his side. 

Bud was born in Churubusco, NY on 6/1/1932 to Gertrude and Clarence Patnode. He graduated from Chateaugay High School in 1950.  He attended St. Lawrence University, earning a BS in Mathematics and was commissioned into the Army as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry upon graduation in 1954. In December 1955 he married his college sweetheart, Elaine Margaret Peatfield. He received his Master of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Arizona in 1965. He served in the Army for 26 years, flying helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft in Korea and Viet Nam and later he oversaw the development of the Apache helicopter night vision and weapons systems. Upon retirement in 1980, he and Elaine moved to Salt Lake City where he joined Fiber Science Division of the EDO Corporation. From May 1984 to January 1997, Bud was sole proprietor of CAPCON Ltd, a management consulting firm, which specialized in helicopter, turbine engine, and flight simulation portions of the aerospace business. His volunteer work included coordinating activities and reunions for the 191st Assault Helicopter Company veterans, being a mountain host at Brighton Ski Resort, distributing lunches for the Good Samaritan Program in Salt Lake City, and serving on the Patient and Family Advisory Council for Intermountain Healthcare. 

He was a longtime member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church, also volunteering in their fund-raising events. Bud loved skiing, hunting, hiking, golf, ballroom and square dancing. He taught his children and grandchildren to ski (but couldn’t convince them to play golf.) He was well loved and respected by colleagues, friends, and neighbors and will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife, Elaine, his children Michelle Fannon of Silver Spring, MD and Paul Patnode of Glenarden, MD, as well as two granddaughters and one great grandson. He was preceded in death by his sister, Patricia Patnode Caringi.

Visitation will be held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Cottonwood Heights on Tuesday, October 17th from 6-8 pm. Funeral mass at St. Thomas More will be on Wednesday, October 18th at 11:30am, followed by an available lunch in the parish center. Entombment in the mausoleum will take place at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Salt Lake City at 2:30pm.

Special thanks to Elevation Hospice for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Best Friends Animal Society or Boys Town (https://www.boystown.org/).