William Oscar Tate

William Oscar Tate passed away on April 5, 2015 at Orchard Park in Yakima. He was born in West Fork, Arkansas on August 22, 1914 to Thomas and Sarah Tate, the fourth of seven children. In 1916, he moved with his parents and two older sisters and a brother by covered wagon to the Pan Handle of Oklahoma where he lived for approximately 20 years of his life. In the late 20’s and early 30’s he attended boarding school in Chicota and Kingfisher, Oklahoma along with his older sister, Lois. In 1935 he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps where he was First Aid Attendant and ambulance driver for the years 1938 and 1939. In 1939 he moved with his family to Toledo, Washington.

In 1941 he enlisted in the US Navy and was stationed in San Diego.

While there, he met and married his wife, Carol, in June of 1942. In 1943, he was moved to NATTC in Norman, Oklahoma where he taught aircraft propellers, and at which time he was an Aviation Chief Machinist Mate. Later in 1943 he was transferred to Philadelphia and assigned to the carrier USS Cowpens and spent the next two years in the South Pacific War Zone. In 1945 he returned to Norfolk where he was discharged in 1947. After his discharge he and his family moved to Terrace Heights where he owned a service station/garage. He joined the Terrace Heights Fire Department when it was first formed in 1947 and was installed as Assistant Chief of Fire District No. 4 and later as Chief of the Terrace Heights Station. In 1957 he and his wife Carol moved to Parker Heights where they owned and operated an orchard for many years with their three sons, Michael, Stephen and Patrick.

Oscar was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church. He enjoyed golfing and traveling with his wife Carol and their friends in their fifth wheel RV across the states. But his passion was rebuilding old cars and helping his sons restore theirs. He and Carol also enjoyed travels to Russia, Australia, China, Hawaii, Mexico and Canada.

He is survived by two sons, Michael of Woodinville, and Stephen and wife (Bonnie) of Yakima, nine grandchildren: Zachary, Andrea, Jodie, Ben, Patricia, Candice, Travis, Ethan and Vickie; and 14 great grandchildren, a sister, Alpha Lusk of Lawrence, Kansas and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his mother and father, his wife of 65 years, Carol, sisters Nettie Lawson and Lois James; brothers Mac, Dean and Alfred; and son Patrick.

A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, April 13, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at Rainier Memorial Center with full military honors conducted by members of William Wharton Post #379 VFW and U.S. Navy. Concluding Services will be at Terrace Heights Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wesley United Methodist Church in Yakima or a charity of your choice.To share a memory of Oscar, please visit www.keithandkeith.com.