A.J. Pate was born on a snowy day in Palestine, Texas, on December 2, 1937, to parents Harlen J. and Nannie Faye (Hamilton) Pate. He passed from these earthly bounds to eternal rest on March 30, 2025, to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was preceded in death by his parents and only sibling, Charles C. Pate.
He is survived by his wife, Martha V. Pate; son, John H. Pate and his wife Shirley; daughter, Debra Darlene Pate; daughter, Corina Etheredge and her husband Robert; three granddaughters, Lindsey Whitworth and her husband Todd, Misty Kokkos and her husband George, Chelsea Littleton and her husband Cole; a grandson, Austin Montgomery Pate; and a great-granddaughter, Audrey Rea Littleton.
A.J. served four years in the U.S. Army Reserve, including six months of active duty at Fort Bliss. He played on the baseball team at Pineland High School. He was a member of the National Honor Society at San Jacinto High School in Houston in 1955. He graduated from Cleveland High School in 1956, where he was a member of the district champion track team. He enrolled at Sam Houston State University in January 1957 and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1959. In college, he was recruited by Arthur Andersen, a public accounting firm. In 1961, he joined Tenneco Inc., where he worked for 31 years until retiring in 1992 as Chief Accountant.
After retirement, he pursued his interest in Texas redistricting and family genealogy. He had the distinction of fighting for non-partisan redistricting alongside Bill Owens, his close personal friend. In genealogy, he founded the Pate DNA project, which grew to over 300 members, as well as founding the Sky Auto Club.
He touched so many lives with his kindness and generosity. He brought so much joy and love to everyone he encountered.
