DCSS founder and COO, Bob Patterson, passed away Sunday evening, August 5th, after fighting a courageous battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, best friend and business partner, Trisha; his mother, Nadine; a brother, Bill; a sister, Kathy; six nieces and two nephews. In addition, he is survived by some incredibly close friends who were as dear to Bob as blood relatives.

The entire DCSS LabAnswer family is saddened by the loss of our leader and dear friend. And it truly is a personal loss for each of us. However, Bob would not want us to grieve for him – he would want us to rejoice that he is in Heaven, in the presence of Christ. Also, Bob would want each of us to make sure that we are prepared to meet him again by accepting Christ as our Savior. While Bob was a giant of a man at seven feet tall, he had a tender heart for helping others. He and Trisha opened their home and finances to people in need countless times over their 26 years of marriage. Their generosity and love for people began long before they had achieved earthly wealth and success.

Bob has been publicly recognized for his achievement in founding and building DCSS as well as his involvement in DCSS Ability, Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas, Bill Glass Champions for Life, and Piedmont Baptist College and Graduate School. He and his wife Trisha also were awarded Houston’s Ernst & Young IT Services Entrepreneur of The Year Award in 2002. However, many at DCSS remember him for the personal investment that he made in each of us. Bob believed in us as individuals, even when we sometimes did not believe in ourselves. (*) He demonstrated that a business could be built upon integrity and always trying to do what is right. While his critics would point to his business setbacks, Bob used those disappointments as lessons learned – and in doing so, taught us that failures are stepping stones to accomplishment.

A Celebration of Bob’s Life was conducted at Sevier Heights Baptist Church in Knoxville on Thursday, August 9th. The family received friends following the service. The graveside service took place on Friday morning, August 10th at the Lake View Cemetery in Lenoir City. A friendship luncheon followed.

For those desiring, memorial contributions may be given to Bill Glass Champions for Life or Piedmont Baptist College and Graduate School.

(*) Bob’s rationale for such a belief comes from the Bible passage, 1 John 4: 17-19: “In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the Day of Judgment, because in this world we are like Him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us.”

Robert Lynn Patterson
April 19, 1958 – August 5, 2007