Patrick Level Alderson, Sr., age 80, entered the world on June 21,1946, at Mare Island Naval Hospital in Vallejo, California, and peacefully concluded his long, wonderful journey in Charleston, South Carolina.

To everyone who knew and loved him, he was simply Pat, a man of deep integrity, enduring devotion, and a character uniquely his own. To know Pat was to know someone who believed in the value of hard work, always “told it like it was,” could be known to be a prankster, and lived life putting his family first.

An “old North Charleston boy,” Pat kept in touch with many from Ben Tillman Elementary School and Chicora High School, including Judy Davis Hagen, whose mother taught the two of them in her kindergarten class. His formative years were spent riding bicycles with his buddies and playing sports in the North Area before it was the bustling city it is today. As a teenager, he worked with Dr. John Sawyer, whom he greatly admired, at Mace Pharmacy. He hung out with friends like Bubba Mack and Jeff Hubler at Hull’s Esso, as they were all into quintessential 1960s car culture. Pat, along with many Chicora boys, could even be found racing their cars up “the Dual Lane,” aka Rivers Avenue!

A proud veteran, Pat served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War aboard the USS Lexington, which trained all Navy and Marine Corp pilots who were deployed to fly combat missions. He operated as a Flight Deck Director, aka a “yellow shirt,” widely considered one of the most high-stakes, high-stress, dangerous jobs in the world. Pat’s decisive nature, pin-point accuracy, and tendency for action made him perfect for this role. During Pat’s tenure, at the height of the Vietnam War, there was a relentless pace of training and the crew of the USS Lexington shattered records for arrested landings.

After his military service, Pat continued his dedication to the defense of our nation, this time as a civilian at the Charleston Naval Shipyard (CNSYD). Pat followed in his father, Jack Level Alderson’s footsteps as a shipfitter, a dangerous and physically demanding profession, and ultimately led Shop 11, the Shipfitter Shop, which employed 500 tradesmen. His time at CNSYD led to many lifelong friendships.

An avid, lifelong sports fan, Pat was always in motion. He played football as a boy, and as a grown man, he laced up his running shoes to tackle challenges such as the Cooper River Bridge Run. He was equally competitive on the tennis court, spending countless hours alongside his longtime buddy and doubles partner, Wayne Gibbons (Debbie). Together, Pat and Wayne brought home trophies, or at least impressive placements, from various tournaments.

Later in life, Pat discovered a passion for golf. True to form, he didn’t just play the game, he threw himself into it with endless energy, occasionally taking on 36 holes in a day just because he wasn’t ready to leave the green. His tall tales about golfing with some of his best buddies remain stories we tell with great laughter to this day.

When Pat wasn't playing sports, he was watching them. He cheered faithfully for the Atlanta Braves, especially during the Dale Murphy era. However, nothing quite compared to his favorite time of year - crisp Saturdays in the fall. For Pat, fall meant college football. He followed everything going on with college ball, especially those playing in the SEC, and his heart belonged squarely to the South Carolina Gamecocks. Win or lose, Saturdays were sacred, and he could quote stats, talk coaching strategy, and evaluate plays with the best of them.

Above all the games and tournaments, the undisputed center of Pat's life was his lifelong love, Linda Scurfield Alderson. Together, they built a home grounded in down-to-earth values, laughter, and connectedness. Linda leaned further into Pat’s heart when she learned to cook many of the treasured recipes passed down by his beloved mother, Hazel Shoemaker Alderson. “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” was never a truer statement!

Pat’s legacy lives on through his children, Laurie Alderson Smith (Kirby) and Patrick Alderson, Jr. (Jenny), both of Charleston, SC, who will forever cherish his wisdom, guidance, humor, and unconditional support. He was the immensely proud and adored grandfather to Adair Fontaine Smith, Katheryn Maverick Smith, and Jackson Calvin Alderson, each of whom brought boundless joy and laughter to his life.

He is also survived by his beloved sisters, Louise Moran (Joe) and Connie Sherman (Terry); his sister-in-law, April Meek (Randy); his brothers-in-law, Mendel Scurfield (Linda, deceased) and Tracy Scurfield; his dear niece, Cassie Garrett, whom he held in his heart as another daughter; and his nephews, Chris Meek, Justin Sherman (Nichole) and Tyler Sherman (Gabriela), along with their children.

Pat will be remembered for his generous spirit, his passion for the game, and the quiet, enduring strength and love he showed to everyone around him. While he is already deeply missed, the life he shared and the memories he created will remain forever in the hearts of those who loved him. Go Gamecocks!

Pat’s family deeply appreciates the incredibly compassionate attention he received from all of his caregivers between Agape Hospice, Roper St. Francis Healthcare and Medical University of South Carolina, especially Doctors Keith Lackey and Harry Demos.

Visitation will be held Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM in the J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., West Ashley Chapel, 3360 Glenn McConnell Parkway. The funeral service will be held Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 2:00 PM, at First (Scots) Presbyterian Church, 53 Meeting St., with a reception to follow at the family’s residence. A private family burial will take place at a later date.

Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. West Ashley Chapel.

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