M. Patton Echols Jr., 86, a Northern Virginia general practice lawyer who also served a term as a Republican state senator and was active in civic groups including the Arlington Committee of 100, died July 26 at his home in McLean. He had lung cancer.
The death was confirmed by a son, T. Tucker Echols.
Mr. Echols was a mechanical engineer and served in the Army before graduating in 1958 from George Washington University law school. He then went to work for an Arlington law firm before starting a solo practice in 1964.
He and lawyer Joseph Hyman formed a new firm in 1971 and operated it in Arlington until Hyman’s death in 1996. Mr. Echols continued to practice law until his death, most recently from his home.
Marion Patton Echols Jr. was born at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where his father was stationed in the Army. The younger Echols graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1945 and was class valedictorian. He served on active duty during the Korean War and remained in the Reserve until around 1980, retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel.
He was a past president of the Arlington Committee of 100, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, the Optimist Club of Arlington and the Washington Savoyards, a Gilbert and Sullivan light opera company. His other memberships included Grace Episcopal Church in Alexandria.
Mr. Echols, a former Democrat, declared himself a Republican in the early 1960s and became chairman of the Arlington County Republican Committee. He made several unsuccessful attempts at elective office, including Virginia House of Delegates and state attorney general. He served as a Virginia state senator from Arlington from 1969 to 1971 but was defeated for reelection by a Democrat.
His marriage to Susanne Stokes ended in divorce. Survivors include his wife of six years, Elizabeth Hayworth MacClaren Echols of McLean; four children from his first marriage, R. Carter Echols of Arlington, M. Patton Echols III of Gresham, Ore., T. Tucker Echols of Kensington and S. Campbell Echols of Scottsville, Va.; a sister; and three grandchildren.
— Adam Bernstein
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