COLUMBIA Larry Edward Gates, 86, died peacefully on Monday, November 17, 2014, after a short illness in the home he loved, surrounded by his loving family. A lifelong resident of the Olympia Community, he was born February 26, 1928, a son of the late John Edward Gates and Myrtle Geiger Gates. He graduated from Olympia High School in 1946 where he lettered in Baseball, Basketball and Football, which was his first love. He played on the 1946 team in which Olympia High defeated Miami Beach High School 6-0 in the first Intersectional Championship Football Game. He was recognized as the most outstanding High School athlete in S.C. in 1946, having played on championship baseball, basketball, and football teams. He coached Dixie Youth League Baseball at Pacific Park, and basketball and baseball for Columbia Junior Optimist Club, and remained an avid sports fan all of his life. He was also an avid fisherman and gardener. Mr. Gates retired from the Columbia Police Department in 1990 at the rank of Lieutenant after previously working for many years as a weave room overseer in Pacific Columbia Mills. He was the founder of the Whaley Street Neighborhood association and was its president from its inception. In that capacity, he was a leader in the restoration of the World War One Doughboy Monument in the Olympia community; served on the board of the Columbia Sumter Empowerment Zone, and was involved in the Olympia-Granby Mills Redevelopment project and the redevelopment of 701 Whaley. He was instrumental in the designation of the Whaley Street Community as a local historic district and in the creation of the annual OlympiaFest Festival. The Columbia City Council recently honored his efforts on behalf of the community by the honorary naming of the 100 block of Wayne Street from Whaley Street to Heyward Street as “Larry Gates Way.” Mr. Gates was a lifelong member of Whaley Street United Methodist Church, where he was an Adult Sunday School Class teacher for over sixty years. He also served in many capacities including as chairman of the Administrative Board, Church Lay Leader, and was a member of the Church Choir. He loved his church and his God. Survivors include his wife of sixty seven years, Alma Gene Mills Gates, as well as his six children of whom he was most proud: Larry E. Gates, Jr., (Linda) of Conway, Phillip W. Gates (Barbara) of Greenwood, Marie G. Watson of Cayce, John T. Gates of Appleton, Wisconsin, Harry A. Gates (Laura) of Lexington, and Glenn M. Gates (Nora) of Columbia; a special sister-in-law, Frances M. Faulkner of Florence; as well as eleven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Sybil G. Busbee; his granddaughter, Linda Marie Gates; and his brother-in-law, Rev. Robert C. Faulkner. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 19, 2014, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, November 20, 2014, at Whaley Street United Methodist Church. Interment will follow in Olympia Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Whaley Street United Methodist Church, 515 Whaley Street, Columbia, SC 29201.
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