Wyatt Lester Pate Sr.

Wyatt Lester Pate Sr., 79, of Boones Mill, Va., died Friday, September 18, 2009. Wyatt retired from Life of Virginia Insurance Company after 35 years of service and was a 45 year member of North Minister Baptist Church in Richmond, Va. After retiring, he continued part-time as a courier for BB&T Bank, limousine service for CSX and a greeter for Shoney's in Mechanicsville, Va. He loved music and volunteered his talents by playing at nursing homes, family reunions and birthday parties. Boating, fishing and being around people were ways he loved to pass the time. He loved making up songs and singing them to you. Twisting and playing on words to see that look on your face always put a smile on his. Wyatt was born November 21, 1929, a son of the late Robert and Vergie Whorley Pate and was also preceded in death by his son, Wyatt "Mike" Lester Pate Jr.; brothers, John and Forrest Pate; sister, Winnie Lorraine Lambert; brothers-inlaw, Elmer Embrey and Albert St. Clair. Wyatt is survived by his sisters, Lillie Pate Embrey and Ruby Pate St. Clair; sistersin-law, Charlotte and Mary Pate; his special friend and caregiver, Linda Smith; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services will be conducted from Lynch ConnerBowman Funeral Home 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 22, 2009, with Dr. Richard Harrell and the Rev. Jim Steele officiating. Interment will follow in the Pate Family Cemetery, Boones Mill. Friends may call after 3 p.m. Monday with his family receiving friends from 5 to 8 p.m. at Lynch Conner-Bowman Funeral Home, 140 Floyd Avenue, Rocky Mount, Va., www.lynchconnerbowman.com