Lois Patton

Lois Emma Prioleau Patton was born June 18, 1924 in Los Angeles, California to the late Major George W. and Ethel G. Prioleau. Her father was a former slave and retired army officer and her mother was a school teacher. Lois was the youngest of their four children and quite the surprise to her 68 year old father and 42 year old mother. Her two sisters Mary King and Sue Bowdan and her brother George Prioleau are predeceased. Lois received her entire grade school education in Los Angeles, CA. Her college education began in 1943, attending USC at night so that she could work during the day to help pay her staggering $10 per unit tuition. She eventually received a BA degree from San Fernando Valley State College (Cal State Northridge) and her MA degree from the University of La Verne. She described her college education as sporadic, being interrupted by work, injuries, marriage, and the birth of 4 children (heroic might be a better word). On January 25, 1947, Lois married Patrick (Pat) Patton and from this union were four children Patricia, Patrick Jr, David, and Cynthia. At that time Lois worked as a clerk-typist for the government and her husband Pat worked for Lockheed in Burbank, CA. In 1954 Pat was transferred and Lois found herself and her four children ages 6, 4, 1.5 and 8 months headed to a little known town called Palmdale. Not quite! Due to housing discrimination in Palmdale Lois found herself in Sun Village. Compared to her life in Los Angeles this was truly a place in the middle of nowhere. With their acre of land in Sun Village Lois and Pat decided to make the best of it by trying their hand at farming. They raised pigs, chickens, rabbits, goats, a garden and (oh yeah) four children. Lois said it was a good experience but not one she cared to pursue forever. To make ends meet Lois applied for a teaching position at Keppel Union School and in 1957 became the second Afro-American teacher to be hired by Keppel. She still needed to complete her degree so Lois made nightly commutes to San Fernando Valley State College 2–3 times per week for 5 years, and all this before the existence of the Antelope Valley Fwy. Lois remained at Keppel for 29 years where she wore several hats, classroom teacher, reading specialist, vice principal and coordinator for State funded Programs. Finally, in 1962, with the help of a black realtor and the passage of Federal anti-discrimination housing laws, Lois and Pat were able to buy a home in Palmdale. Both Lois and Pat were lifelong soldiers in the fight against discrimination and Lois was the founder and first president of the Antelope Valley’s chapter of the NAACP. In 2013 Lois was awarded the Antelope Valley NAACP Image Award. Lois was a faithful and active member of the AME church in Sun Village and later the United Methodist Church in Palmdale. She served in various capacities which included volunteer secretary, choir member, and lay leader. Often she and Pat would sing solos and duets or Lois would accompany Pat on the piano. Both had beautiful voices that the congregation loved to hear. Lois was a member of numerous organizations. Lois was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Chi Kappa Omega Chapter) in 1954. She was recognized as a “Golden” member in 2004 after 50 years of membership. She was also a member of the Semper Fidelis Club in Sun Village and an organizer of the Sun Village Woman Club. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 38 years. She leaves to cherish her memory: daughter, Patricia Patton and wife Linda; son, Patrick Patton and wife Teasha; son, David Patton and wife Adrienne; daughter, Cynthia Sue Patton; four grandchildren: Awkmel Toomes, Brian Patton, Melinda Patton and Dustin Staples; one great grandchild: Nyah Toomes and a host of nephews, nieces and many other loving relatives and friends.