Alexander Olen Tate

TATE, ALEXANDER OLEN age 98, of Vestavia Hills, Alabama passed away Saturday morning, August 17, 2013. He was born and raised in Dora, Alabama. After graduating from the Alabama School for the Deaf (ASD) in Talladega, Olen earned his undergraduate degree from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. In 1941, he returned to Talladega to teach at his high school alma mater for over 40 years. A street on the ASD campus was named in his honor in 1988. After retirement, he continued his service to ASD as ASD's Alumni Liaison Coordinator, an administrative position he filled for eight years. Before moving to Vestavia Hills in 1992, Olen was a long-time member of Talladega Club of the Deaf and Talladega Chapter of the Alabama Association of the Deaf (AAD). In his second term as state president, he was the driving force behind the AAD's incorporation in 1965. At the state level of the AAD, he served several terms as president, vice president and treasurer. In 1997, he received an outstanding service award from AAD, and was awarded Lifetime Honorary Member status of the AAD in 2001. Olen's memberships also included ASD Alumni Association, Birmingham Chapter of the AAD, Birmingham Silent Golden Agers, National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, and Deaf/Hearing Ventures. In 1997 and 1999, he received Golden Hand awards from the National Association of the Deaf. Olen was preceded in death by his parents, Millie Elizabeth Hollis Tate and Ollie Ephraim Tate; his wife of 64 years, Agnes Elizabeth Pesto Tate; Brothers Nelous Tate, Earvel Tate and Noah Tate; and sisters, Gurtie Bibb, Flora Black, and Estes Nail. Survivors include daughter, Joan T. Fleming of Vestavia Hills; son, Gary H. Tate of Vestavia Hills; grandson, David M. Fleming (Brigitte) of Mountain Brook,great-grandsons, Andrew David Fleming and Hudson Tate Fleming, both of Mountain Brook; niece, Helen Davidson; and nephews, Odus Tate and Alvie Tate. Visitation will be one hour before the 12:30 p.m. Funeral Mass on Saturday, August 24, 2013 at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Hoover, Alabama. Father John Fallon will officiate, and Sue Graham will be interpreter. Lunch will be served in the church's fellowship hall immediately after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Alabama School for the Deaf in Talladega, St. John's Episcopal Church for the Deaf in Mountain Brook, and Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Hoover.