The Richlands community is mourning the passing of Bill Patton, a longtime member and employee of the Richlands Volunteer Rescue Squad / Richlands Fire-Rescue, whose life was marked by an extraordinary commitment to serving others.
Patton passed away on August 28, 2026, after spending nearly six decades connected to Richlands’ emergency-response community. His death has prompted an outpouring of condolences for his family, friends, former colleagues and fellow first responders.
Patton began his service with the Richlands Volunteer Rescue Squad in 1963 and remained involved until 2022. Over those years, he dedicated countless hours to helping residents during emergencies and supporting the work of local rescue and fire personnel.
His nearly 60 years of service represented an extraordinary commitment to public safety. Generations of Richlands residents were touched in some way by the organization he served and the emergency work carried out by its members.
Richlands Volunteer Rescue Squad / Richlands Fire-Rescue remembered Patton as a longtime member and employee whose dedication became an important part of the organization’s history. He was also known as EVOC Driver #280, reflecting his role within the emergency-response organization.
For fellow first responders, Patton’s legacy extends beyond the number of years he served. His willingness to respond when others needed help reflected the central values of volunteer emergency service: commitment, compassion, reliability and a desire to protect the community.
Although Patton’s active service ended in 2022, the impact of those decades remains part of the Richlands emergency-response community. His experience and knowledge were accumulated during a period when emergency services evolved significantly, and his long association with the rescue squad connected generations of personnel.
His passing represents the loss of a longtime public servant whose working and volunteer life was closely tied to helping others. Friends and former colleagues are now remembering the years they spent alongside him and the countless calls and community moments that formed part of his service.
Condolences and prayers have been extended to Patton’s family and loved ones, as well as to the rescue squad members, firefighters and other emergency personnel who knew him.
Funeral and memorial arrangements were not included in the information provided. Further details may be announced by his family or the organization he served.
Bill Patton’s nearly six decades of service leave behind a lasting legacy in Richlands. For the people who worked beside him and the community he dedicated so much of his life to serving, his memory will remain closely connected to a lifetime spent answering the call to help others.
