Mobile, Alabama, surrounded by his loving family.
Larry was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on August 20, 1938, to Lawrence Alvin Gates and Mary Roper Gates, who preceded him in death.
He attended Calallen High School before entering Bob Jones University on an athletic
scholarship but later transferred and graduated from Texas A&M University in 1961. Following
graduation, he served in the Air Force. He returned to Corpus Christi where he met his future
wife, Frances Minturn Gates on a blind date and then married in 1964. Larry and his beloved
wife Frances moved to Mobile, Alabama, to open a Whataburger in 1973. She worked as his
wife, partner, and mother to their two children until her death in 1993. During this time, Larry
became a successful businessman, receiving many awards, but the ultimate accomplishment
was his induction to the Whataburger Hall of Fame. In addition to the many accolades
bestowed upon him for his community work, he will be remembered for making the lives of
everyone better for having met him. He visited people in nursing homes, treated them to
meals or days out. He enhanced the daily living of individuals from various walks of life by
baking cakes or cookies and delivering to businesses he frequented simply to brighten their
days. He cherished his time at his hunting camps and poker playing with his best buds.
Perhaps the accomplishment that was the most important to him was family and friends.
Surviving family members are his children Travis Gates and Shannon Gates Wagoner (Brian),
and his grandchildren Tessa Gates, Willa Gates, Maura Gates, Laizren Gates and Mary Frances
Wagoner and a loving sister, Randy Sue Wood Gates.
Flowers are always welcome and appreciated, but with Larry’s generous nature, donations can
be made to:
The Shriners/Zamora Transportation Fund
PO Box 100069
Irondale , AL 35210.
