Wallace Fier Tate

Wallace Fier Tate, age 100, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on February 26, 2023, in Lampasas, Texas, after a brief illness. He is now joyfully seeing his heavenly Father face-to-face and having a glorious reunion with his loved ones.

Wallace was born on March 1, 1922, in Waco, Texas, the middle child of seven brothers and sisters. He spent a number of years during the Great Depression in a two-family combined household with 18 brothers, sisters, cousins and adults. His childhood had its fair share of scanty meals and minimal necessities, but his memories are mostly of the good times shared by his loving family. He said that it was only when he started college and began eating in the cafeteria that he discovered what it meant to be "full".

He served his country in the Army Signal Corps in World War II at various posts in the US and in Okinawa. After the war, he became a proud 1948 graduate of Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. Then, after a career of 30 years as a civil engineer with the Exxon refinery in Baytown, Texas, he retired early to invest time with his family in Austin, Texas.

Wallace attended St. Mark's Methodist for many years in Baytown and later, in Austin, was a faithful part of the church community wherever he attended. For many years, he considered Red River Church his church "family" until he moved to Lampasas in 2021. He walked with the Lord and was faithful to pray for all of his family members and friends on a regular basis. In addition, he set the bar high in terms of generosity of spirit, giving of his time, talents and finances where there was need. In particular, he relished volunteering his engineering skills for various small building projects that arose at the church or at the homes of friends and family.

He genuinely loved his family and blended families and could usually be seen at his kids' and then his grandkids' recitals, concerts, sports events, Boy Scouts, and every other activity that came along that he could be involved in. He was interested in supporting all of their endeavors, successes, and celebrations -- an excellent Dad and Grandpa.

In addition to his engineering career, Wallace had an avid lifetime interest in astronomy, which led to constructing a small telescope that was set up in his backyard. Other lifelong pursuits he enjoyed were singing (be it in the choir or around the campfire); gardening; rock collecting; and staying fit at the gym. Later in life, he learned ballroom dancing and became a staunch member of the Let's Dance Club at the North Lamar Senior Center. Many a Friday night was spent there dancing to live Big Band music.

Wallace is survived by his wife Norma, and her children: Karen and Don Winget, their four sons and daughter, and one granddaughter; and Karl Stewart, his son, one granddaughter and one grandson.

In addition, he is survived by his children: Byron and Melissa Tate, their two daughters and four grandchildren; and Cindy and Rick Streiff, their two daughters and two grandsons.

He is also survived by Lorena Chevalier Tate's children: Marc and Eunice Chevalier, their four daughters and four sons, and twenty-nine grandchildren; Kathleen and Jim Winn, their son and daughter, and four grandchildren; Jeanette and Tom Maurer, their two daughters, and three grandchildren.

Additionally, Wallace is survived by many nieces and nephews whom he dearly loved.

The family would like to express their appreciation to Lampasas Assisted Living and Gentiva Hospice for the excellent care and kindness that surrounded him during the last couple of years and especially in the last four weeks of his life.