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Submitted: 7/20/20 • Approved: 7/20/20 • Last Updated: 7/23/20 • R335613-G0-S3
September 18, 1923 ~ February 22, 2018
Kenneth Wyman Tate
Kenneth W. Tate, 94, of Amarillo passed from this life on Thursday, February 22, 2018. Funeral services will be at 11:00 am, Saturday, February 24, 2018 at the Main Street Church of Christ, 505 S. Main St. in Lockney, TX with Pastor Jerry Klein officiating. Private burial will follow in Lockney Cemetery. Arrangements are by LaGrone Blackburn Shaw Funeral Directors, 8310 S. Coulter.
Kenneth was born on September 18, 1923 in Lexington, OK to Doc and Hattie Tate. He graduated from Lockney High School in 1941. He married Melba Smalley in Floydada, TX on February 21, 1948. Kenneth was inducted into the 24th Army Infantry Division in 1944 and trained at Camp Roberts, CA. and Fort Benning, GA. He served in the Philippine Islands, Corregidor and Leyte and was honorably discharged in 1946. Soon after the war, he began employment with Southwestern Public Service (SPS) Company in Floydada, TX. In 1956, he moved his family to Silverton, TX where he was manager for SPS. In 1972, Kenneth and Melba moved to Lockney, where he was the SPS manager until he retired in 1986, after forty years of service.
Kenneth loved his church and enjoyed civic activities. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Lockney Housing Authority, the W.J. Mangold Hospital Board, Mackenzie Municipal Water Authority and the Lockney Rotary Club.
Kenneth is survived by his loving wife, Melba of seventy years; a son, Mike Tate and wife Tess of Garland; two daughters, Gayla Nelson and husband John of Santa Fe and Thresa Atkins and husband James of Amarillo; a brother, Percy Tate of Midland; two sisters, Virginia Gann and Mavis Reecer of Alto, NM; five grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to your local Alzheimers Association.
Contributed on 7/20/20 by texasfindagraver
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Record #: 335613