Leonidas (Lonnie) Tye Tate was born on March 24, 1940, in Ft. Benning, GA, to Robert Louis and Gladys Evelyn Tye Tate. He was raised in San Pedro, California. His mom and dad also had a cabin in the mountains where his love of nature was cultivated.
Lonnie graduated from San Pedro High School in 1958, then volunteered for active duty in the US Air Force, finishing his service as an E-3 airman in 1962. He married and lived in the Maryland and Washington, D.C. area, rearing three daughters.
He worked in Washington, D.C. for the Metro Transit service for 29 years. He was a driver for the Georgia University football team which fostered his love for that team. He retired to Northwest Arkansas to be near his beloved sister. He drove a school bus in the Fort Smith area and for the Rogers School District.
He met Mary Grace Walts in 2009, and they were married in Hamilton, Bermuda later that year. The couple would have been married 17 years on October 23, 2026. Lonnie had a fun-loving spirit and spoke his mind freely. His Christian demeanor and humor was what attracted Mary to him.
Lonnie had a special love for fishing. He and Mary enjoyed fishing and camping. They also got to travel before his health declined.
Lonnie was a member of First Baptist Church of Rogers, having joined in October of 2010. He was a member of a Sunday night men's Bible study group and also a greeter for the church. He was saved in the Los Angeles Crusade of Billy Graham's in 1949. He had a true love of our Lord and had been baptized in 2009.
Leonidas Tate is survived by his wife Mary Grace Parsons Walts; his daughter, Kristen Elaine Shepherd of Brandon, Florida; grandson Justin Tate of Manassas, Virginia; nephew Steve Hatcher of Spokane, Washington; six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He was also stepdad to Travis and Trudi Walts of Bella Vista, Arkansas, and Anthony G. Lance of Centerton, Arkansas; step-grandchildren, Kristen L. Craine and husband Chris of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, Caitlin E. Lance and Brennan Lance of Centerton, Arkansas; and two step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Katherine Taylor of Enumclaw, Washington, and Cecelia Hatcher of Spokane, Washington; his daughter Carrie Lynn Chastain of Strasburg, Virginia; a favored nephew, Michael Joncich of Washington State; and stepdaughter Barbara Kay Walts Lance of Centerton, Arkansas.
