James Lloyd Gates

Gates, James of Apopka, died on December 25, 2014 at Florida Hospital at Altamonte with his family by his side. Born November 11, 1935 in Annapolis, MD, his parents were John C. and Pearl G. Gates. He was raised on the Chesapeake Bay of the Eastern Shore of Maryland near Princess Anne, but he graduated from Surrattsville High School in Clinton, MD in 1954 excelling in baseball, basketball and track, holding several Maryland Championships in sprinting events. He enlisted in the US Navy working as a torpedo man and served over 30 years (active and reserve) earning the rank of Master Chief before retiring. He was stationed in Key West, Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Navy provided him the opportunity to travel widely, spending time in the North Atlantic, Mediterranean, and South America. While in Norfolk, Virginia he was the Senior Enlisted Advisor to Admiral Zumwalt and was the second highest enlisted sailor in the United States Navy. In Orlando, he was the senior master chief instructor at the Orlando Training Center. He married his high school sweetheart, Mary Joan Duke on February 11, 1956 in Clinton, Maryland. They raised their five children on the various bases where they were stationed during his Naval career (moving over a dozen times). After retirement from military service, the family moved to Apopka where he worked for several electronic firms, most notably NCR, where he was awarded two patents for advanced electronics. In his retirement years he enjoyed following the Tampa Bay Rays and a variety of University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish athletic teams. He also enjoyed working on an extensive train board, resulting in the grandchildren referring to him as "PaPa Choo Choo". Besides both his parents, he joins brothers John, Raymond, Patrick, Melvin and Johnny and sister Libby as well as infant granddaughter Sofia. He is survived by his beloved wife Joan of 58 years, sister, Ruth Glasser of Charlton, NY and children James (Victoria) of Cooperstown, NY, Raymond (Martha) of Sacramento, CA, Sharon of Apopka, John of Apopka and Nelson (Anel) of San Antonio, TX. Grandchildren Meghan (Greg) Kowalski, Sean, Joshua, Renee, Rachel, Austin, Sarah, Nicholas, Samantha, Garrison, Raquel, Joaquin, and Alexander. Chief Gates will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery in a formal US Naval Ceremony at a later date. A memorial open house will be held at the family home at 1608 Patton Ave. from 4-7pm on Sun., Dec. 28. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, DC and to the Smile Train. Condolences may be offered at www.woodlawnfuneralhomegotha.com.