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Thomas E. Tate, 78, died in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, on January 18, 2018. Tom was born July 28th, 1939, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to Thomas C. and Evelyn Tate, and had four younger siblings: Sue, Carrol, Judy, and DeWayne.
As a youth, his industrious nature led him to buy and resell donuts door-to-door, deliver papers, and mow lawns. He spent his afternoons swimming and fishing with friends, and maintained contact with many of them until his death. Tom served our country in the Army Enlisted Reserves in the Vietnam era. Later, he assisted at his father's construction materials business, operating dump trucks and loaders. He worked hot Oklahoma afternoons at the local lumber company offloading train cars, which led him to attend OSU. Not finding college to his liking Tom returned to Bartlesville, pursued education in technology, and entered the computer programming division of Phillips Petroleum Company, where he occupied several positions until his retirement at age 52. For several years, he designed, drew, and subcontracted the construction of homes in the Bartlesville area.
Tom married Betty Charles Lay from Bartlesville, Oklahoma on April 27, 1962. Together, they had Stacy Diane Tate and Stephen Spencer Tate. Tom was an involved father, supporting Stacy and Stephen in their extracurricular efforts and funding their academic activities into adulthood. Tom enjoyed traveling to destinations in the continental United States, Hawaii, Canada, Europe, Mexico, and New Zealand. He traveled to his family members Stacy, Carol, and Sue when they were unable to travel to him. Tom forged life-changing relationships with his grandchildren: Micheal, Zachary, Tanner, Mia, and Ava. Whether attending sports, shooting fireworks, providing monkey-bar assists, baking sugar cookies, or playing My Little Ponies, Tom enjoyed his time with his grandkids – and they enjoyed him. Tom regularly assisted individuals and friends and volunteered at the Concern Center, the Convention Center, and other charitable venues.
Tom is survived by both children and all five grandchildren, and his memory lives in their hearts.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Community Center, 300 SE Adams Blvd, on February17th, at 12:00 p.m. – followed by snacks, and Tom's favorite...dessert. We invite all those who were positively impacted by Tom's personable, gentle, and generous nature to join with us to remember an intensely loved and well-respected man.
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