Richard Pate

Richard Alton Pate passed June 25 ,2010 at Hospice House in Odessa, Tx. His final days were spent surrounded by family and friends whom he had touched throughout his truly extraordinary life. He is preceded in death by his parents Alton Woodrow Pate and Dora Alyne Henslee and his brother Dudley Pate.

Richard was born in Brownfield, Texas. His love of gardening began on a family farm outside of Hobbs, New Mexico and continued throughout his life. Among his many contributions to the Permian Basin Master Gardeners included developing a website devoted to regional education. In 2006, the site won first place at the State Master Gardener Conference. He learned leather crafting from his father who had a boot shop in Hobbs, as well. After serving his country in the Navy, he became a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper in Childress, Tx. In 1969, he came to the Ector County Sheriffs Office , where he served until 1976. From 1976 to 1979, he owned a helicopter business in Ozona, Tx. He returned to the Ector County Sheriffs Office in 1979 and was promoted through the ranks to his final position of inspector.

Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife, Kay Pate and his Mother in Law Francis Cain, his daughter Laura K. Stark and husband Scott of Roswell, NM, daughter Marcy A. Wilson and husband David of Ft. Worth, Tx and son Corey B.
Pate of Kyoto, Japan. Richard was known as Grambo to his seven grandchildren and one great grandchild: Phillip Stark and daughter Claire, Paul Stark, Matthew Michael and Lauren Palmore and Melissa and Mark Wilson. He is survived by his sister Delilah Grainger and family of Luling, Tx his Aunt Hazel Walzer and family of Colorado City, Tx as well as his Brother in Law Larry Cain and family of Odessa,Tx and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens on Monday, June28 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that tax deductable gifts be made to Hospice House Foundation, Inc: 903 N. Sam Houston Ave, Odessa, Tx 79761 www.homehospicewtx.com.

Service

Memorial Service

Sunset Memorial Chapel
6801 E. Business 20
Odessa, TX  79762
Monday, June 28, 2010
2:00 PM

Cemetery

Sunset Memorial Gardens
6801 E. Business 20
Odessa, TX  79762

Memorial Contributions

903 N. Sam Houston Ave.
Odessa, TX  79761