Van Buren Pate

Mr. Van Buren Pate, age 83 of Calhoun, passed away Monday, November 29, 2010 in a Rome hospital.

He was born on July 19, 1927 in Gordon County, son of the late William Colquitt Pate and Annie Mae Baker Pate. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by a sister, Dentala Pate, and by three brothers, Nollie Pate, Leonard Pate and Royal Pate.

He served his country in the United Sates Army during the Korean Conflict, and had been a member of the American Legion and the V.F.W. Mr. Pate was retired from owning and operating the Calhoun Car Clinic. He was a charter member of Canaanland Baptist Church and Bethel Baptist Church, where he had served as a deacon.

Survivors include his wife, Althea Pate, to whom he was married for 63 years; a daughter, Judy Walraven and her husband Walter (Bossy) of Calhoun; four sons, Freddy Pate and his wife Marcelle, Van Pate, Jr., Jimmy Pate and his wife Barbara all of Calhoun, Michael (Michelle) of Chattanooga; a sister, Willie Mae Babet of Roswell; and a brother, Atnas (Ceph) Pate of Calhoun. Grandchildren, Amelia Gamblin, Amanda Woodruff, Samantha Kirby, Zackery Pate, Wesley Brown, Marty Brown and Jeremy Pate; fifteen great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services for Mr. Van Buren Pate will be conducted Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at 2:00pm from the Bethel Baptist Church with Rev. Tony Angel, Rev. Marvin Brock, and Rev. Gene Smith officiating. Active pallbearers will include Wesley Brown, Marty Brown, Zackery Pate, Thurman Pate, Elvin Pate and Jeremy Pate. Honorary pallbearers are Johnny Mack Thompson, John Frix and C.L. Quinn. Interment will follow the service at the Fidell Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Max Brannon and Sons Funeral Home Tuesday after 2:00pm.

Online condolences may be expressed and the guest book signed at www.maxbrannonandsons.com. Max Brannon and Sons Funeral Home, a legacy of compassion and care, is conducting the funeral services for Mr. Van Buren Pate, of Calhoun.