Roma Louise Cate

Roma Louise Cate, born July 8, 1941, in Washington, D.C., departed this life on January 29, 2026, in Lynchburg, Virginia. She is survived by her brother, Robert Louis Cate, of Milton Delaware; her nieces, Laura Lee Litten (Russell), Marilynn Cate Foss (Peter), Hope Anne Norris, and Joy Lynne Hall (Terrence); her niece-in-law, Linda Prescott Cate; her great nieces and nephews, Heather (Ben), Sean (Zoe), Carl (Corrine), Erin (Michael), Brittany (Vince), Branden, TJ, Summer, Talon (Allison), Alyssa, Sarah(Nick), and Jessica (Tayler); her great, great nieces and nephews, Rebecca, Grace, Carl, Owen, Addison, Olivia, Sloane, Wesley, Waverly, Layne, Janie, Rocelyn, Judah, Simeon, and Gideon; and her former sister-in-law Carolyn McCormick. She was preceded in death by her father, Louis Alvin Cate, her mother, Roma Eppley MacEwen Cate, her nephew Timothy Robert Cate, her sister-in-law Nancy Jean Cate and her great nephew, Brandon Christopher Foss.

In her early adult years Roma was both a scholar and an athlete. She obtained her bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland and her master’s degree from the University of Virginia. While attending college and starting her career, Roma found time to participate in the Amateur Softball Association, the women’s fast pitch softball league, playing first base. In recent years she was nominated to the Softball Hall of Fame, a nomination which she declined to accept.

After completing her bachelor’s degree, she began her career in the field of social work. She worked full-time while obtaining her master’s degree. Her entire career was spent in the employment of the State of Virginia as a social worker and administrator. She retired in 1995.

In her retirement years she devoted her time to studying the Word of God and sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. She spoke about Christ with everyone she met. She handed out gospel tracts to people she encountered in her everyday life. She supplied tracts to local stores and restaurants where information flyers and pamphlets were available to patrons. She also wrote meditations based on her studies of scripture and shared copies with everyone who would receive them.

Second only to her Savior, she found her greatest joy in her family. She was a “Daddy’s girl” who loved both of her parents deeply, caring for them in her own home as long as she was able. She adored her brother, speaking often about his intelligence, his “natural” athletic ability, his artistic skills, and his aptitude for playing the piano. She loved all her nieces and nephews, cherishing every conversation, every visit, every phone call, every picture and every tidbit of news about each one. In the week prior to her death, she “met” her next great, great nephew, Reuben, and rejoiced in anticipation of his arrival.

Today she is in heaven, rejoicing in the presence of her Savior and enjoying the place He has prepared for her. John 14: 1-3 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God: believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”