Andrew Jackson Pate was born May 9, 1919, in Montgomery County, Texas, to Grover Jackson Pate and Nora Ivey Pate.
Brother Pate (Andy) went home to be with the Lord and his beloved wife of 70 years, Cyrene, on Wednesday, Aug. 18.
He graduated from high school in Dickinson, Texas. He attended Howard Payne in Brownwood, Texas, Chaplains School in Massachusetts (WWZ) and Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. A chaplain in World War II, he lived his entire adult life on a mission field to make the world a better place by helping people seek and find the Lord Jesus Christ. He served as a Baptist minister in many churches, including Belle Plain Baptist Church in Brownwood, Spring Baptist Church in Spring, Texas, Jones Creek Baptist Church in Freeport, Texas, First Baptist Church in Eagle Lake, First Baptist Church in Sweeny, Texas, First Baptist Church in Columbus, Texas, Tri-City Southern Baptist Church in La Puente, Calif., College Park Baptist Church in Houston, Texas (Houston Baptist University) and First Baptist Church of Katy, Texas. He also served as director of Texas Baptist Encampment in Palacios, Texas, for a three-year term.
In his “retirement” years, he continued to look for ways to help people find Jesus in various ministries in the Texas Hill Country such as the V.A. Hospital in Kerrville and the First Baptist Church of Harper, Texas. Andy was active in numerous civic and church-related organizations throughout his lifetime. He was especially active in Rotary Club in all the cities where he lived and served as pastor.
Survivors include three children, Glenda Holcomb and husband, Richard, Ron Pate and wife, Shirley, and Don Pate and wife, Linda; seven grandchildren, Shawn Pate, Heather Rutt and husband, Chris, LaJuana Post and husband, Gregg, Richard T. Holcomb and wife, Cristina, Michael Holcomb and wife, Janett, Kristen Fraley and husband, Steve, and Drew Pate; six great-grandchildren, Jacob Rutt, Allie Rutt, Richard Holcomb II, Hannah Holcomb, Declan Fraley and Michael Glen Holcomb Jr.
He was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife, Cyrene Follett Pate.
His three children, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren will continue to carry with them forever the wisdom of his words, the inspiration of his faith and the example of his unconditional love.
Memorials may be given in his memory to First Baptist Church of Richmond/General Fund, 502 South 5th St., Richmond, TX 77469.
Condolence messages may be written for the Pate family at www.garmanycarden.com.
Services are under the direction of Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors, 1201 Fourth Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471; 281-342-4671.
