Art Patch, husband, father, brother, friend and businessman passed away on August 18, 2024. He was 83. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
His life began in Rhode Island and traversed California, Mexico, Arizona, Hawaii, Utah, Colorado and Texas. Throughout his life, Art was respected and appreciated for his fairness, his honesty, his loyalty, his sense of humor and his code of ethics that could not be shaken. The story of Art’s career is an inspiration. From bag boy in high school to clerk at Safeway while attending San Jose State College. After graduating with a degree in Advertising, he sold consumer products for Armor Dial. He decided to return to Safeway Stores, where he remained for 23 years, fulfilling the roles of store manager, brands manager, Director of Grocery Store Merchandising and Vice President of Corporate Grocery Division. After which, he was recruited to be Senior Vice President of Operations for Lucky Stores. Following this position, he was presented with the opportunity to be the President and CEO of Apple Tree Markets in Texas. Years later, Art moved back to California to join Save Mart Supermarkets as Vice President of Operations. He concluded his retail career as Vice President and General Manager of Food Maxx, a division of Save Mart Supermarkets. Over the course of his career, Art continued to strengthen his knowledge base and his business acumen through the Cornell Food Executive Program and many other additional career building programs. He also served on several industry boards. Throughout his career, Art’s diligence, efficacy and leadership skills have been recognized and applauded by his peers and bosses at numerous award events.
Once retired, Art continued to give to his community by serving on the board of the San Joaquin/Stanislaus County Food Bank, becoming a member of the Executive Force team at Encore and Associates, serving as a mentor for SCORE, a startup business organization, and becoming an advisor and contributing writer for The Shelby Report, a national grocery retail publication.
Art is survived by his wife, Jane Betaque Patch; his two children, Braden Arthur Patch and Erin Elizabeth Patch; his brother, Jeffrey David Patch and sister, Barbara Jean Patch Millhollen; and 12 nieces and nephews.
Art loved his life, his marriage to Jane, his home, his dogs, golfing, traveling, the 49er football team and his many friends. It would be difficult to gauge how many lives Art impacted over the years living in Oakdale and the many years in the grocery industry. He will be missed. Please offer a moment of silence for our loved one, Arthur Lionel Patch. Gone, but never forgotten.
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
The Riverbank (Calif.) News
Sept. 11, 2024
