U.S. Marine Veteran John Matthew Patton Dies at 58

U.S. Marine Veteran John Matthew Patton Dies at 58

John Matthew Patton of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, died in his home on November 9, 2025. He leaves behind his two sons, Lt. John Thomas of the United States Marine Corps and Christopher Joseph Patton, his beloved twin sister, Jane, and his loving siblings, Ann Patton, Raymond Patton, Maureen Patton, and his Marine “brother” and brother, James Patton. John is predeceased by his sister, Carol Patton, and his parents, Mary Lou and Raymond Patton.

 

Along with his twin sister, Jane, John Patton had another twin, an “Irish Twin”, Jim. Mirroring each other’s lives and careers, they were inseparable, beginning with playing on all the same childhood sports teams and then joining the US Marine Corps together, and serving in the same military units. They were always a unit and even worked in neighboring towns as police officers throughout their careers. John and Jim stuck together right to the very end. If you knew John, you knew Jim and vice versa. They were a true example of an “always faithful” brotherhood through thick and thin, the good and the bad.

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Upon completion of his military duties, John began a career in law enforcement at Richmond PD as a reserve officer. From there, John worked as a police officer at the University of Rhode Island, advancing from patrolman to detective. John completed his career at URI as a lieutenant. John’s heart and journey as a policeman led him to the Hopkinton PD family, where he began once again as a patrolman, moving quickly to detective, and eventually retiring as a sergeant. In addition to John’s traditional police duties, he also served on the regional SWAT team in South County and the Emergency Service Unit for Charlestown and Hopkinton.

 

John not only won the officer of the year award in 2007, but he also won the respect and the hearts of all the men and women whom he worked with through the years. John was like no other, blending professional skills and sharp intelligence mixed with a rare and uniquely wacky sense of humor.

 

There wasn’t a sharper wit nor a quicker retort when John was around. His unconventional style, wild energy, and humor were unmatched. John’s loyalty to his family and friends ran deep as he lived out the Semper Fi philosophy. Truly a public servant, John was always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need, and most times, John showed more charity to strangers than to himself.

 

To have spent time with John meant almost constant laughter, but for those who truly knew him and loved him, it also meant tears. He spent many years in his own “active duty” suffering and battling through his own personal wars. John fought hard every day, and it is now time for him to be officially discharged from the battles of life.

 

John was truly proud of his Marine status, but more than anything, he was most proud of his boys, John and Christopher. Anyone who spent time with John always had the opportunity to hear him share enthusiastically about John’s Marine adventures and Chris’s talent and passion for baseball.

 

Visiting hours will be held from 5-7 PM on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 in the Fagan-Quinn Funeral Home of Patrick Quinn Funerals and Cremations, 825 Boston Neck Rd., North Kingstown, RI. Relatives and friends are invited to gather in procession at 9:15 AM on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at the Fagan-Quinn Funeral Home of North Kingstown. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for John at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 in St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 53 Rockland St., Narragansett, RI. His burial with military funeral honors will take place in the RI Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, Exeter, RI.

 

Sergeant John Patton, rest easy. May the Marine posted at the gates of heaven open them wide for you.

 

Semper Fidelis, Marine. Your duty is done.

 

In many a strife we've fought for life And never lost our nerve.

If the Army and the Navy

Ever look on Heaven's scenes,

They will find the streets are guarded By United States Marines.

 

-The Marines Hymn