Ruben Franklin Tate Jr

Ruben Franklin Tate, Jr. was born Sunday, May 8, 1932 in Lafayette, Kentucky to Betty Killebrew Ritchie and Ruben F. Tate, Sr. and went to be with the Lord on Saturday, June 22, 2019 in San Luis Obispo, California.

He was reared by his Mother, Uncle and Aunt in Hopkinsville, Kentucky and Chicago Heights, Illinois and he joined the United States Air Force in 1949 when he was just 17 years old. He married Emma Jean Bigelow and had 5 children. He later married Alma C. Brown whom had 4 children.

Ruben graduated from Allen Hancock College of Santa Maria, California. He received his B.A. in Theology from Andersonville Baptist Seminary in Camilla, Georgia. In addition, Ruben has a four year diploma in Pastoral Ministries from Golden Gate Theological Seminary in Mills Valley, California. His impressive credentials include being a graduate of Antioch Baptist Seminary, San Luis Obispo, California; Institute of Church Imperative, Modesto, California; and Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois. Ruben was the Chaplin for the California State Association of Letter Carriers, and President of the National Association of Letter Carriers of Branch #52 Central Coast. He served as a member of the Paso Robles School Board. He was also on the Board of Directors of the San Luis Obispo County, Economic Opportunity Commission. He was a past president of the California State Baptist Convention as well as Moderator of the Coast Counties Missionary Baptist District Association.

Ruben pastored Second Baptist Church in Paso Robles from 1985 through 2014.

Ruben is survived by his Wife Alma, sons Reggie Tate (Charlette), Mike Tate (Esther), Rodney Tate, Sr. (Carolyn), Barbara, Vernon Ramey, Sr., Fred Ramey (Audrey) and daughters Barbara Marshall and Sherrold Smith, 29 Grandchildren, many Great Grandchildren, family and friends.

Ruben was preceded in death by his parent, his sister, and first wife, two children Regina Owens and Ronnie Ramey, his grandsons Rodney Tate, Jr., and Eric Walker.