Harold Napoleon Tate
AGE: 97 • Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, Nevada - Harold Napoleon Tate of Las Vegas, Nevada and Fair Haven, New Jersey, passed away peacefully after a brief illness, in a Las Vegas, Nevada hospital, on Thursday, December 27, 2016 at the age of 97.
Harold was born and raised in Goldsboro, North Carolina, May 10, 1919 to parents Ruebud and Annie Fields Tate. In his early years, during the Great Depression, he assisted in his enterprising family's business. He graduated from Dillard High School in 1937. He became a twin-engine airplane pilot during high school. He persevered to become the first of his family, both to attend and to earn his college degree in electrical engineering from the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University, Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1941. He attended graduate school at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He entered the United States Army in 1942 and served honorably in the United States Army during World War II until 1945. He married childhood sweetheart Mary Elizabeth Austin on February 15, 1943. Subsequently, he enjoyed a lengthy and productive career as an electrical engineer for the United States Department of Defense for just shy of 40 years in further patriotic service in the Nation's defense, based at Camp Evans and Fort Monmouth, New Jersey and in private industry. He remained largely a lifelong resident of Fair Haven, New Jersey, before finally moving to Las Vegas, Nevada.
Harold was active in many civic organizations, including the Red Bank (N.J) Men's Club, the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, the Red Bank, New Jersey YMCA, and maintained a lifelong dedication to the St. Thomas Episcopal Church of Red Bank, New Jersey. He, like his late wife Mary, was an ardent bridge player amongst his many friends. He was active in the civil rights movement, fighting injustice and ignorance. He was a staunch proponent of higher education and gave selflessly of himself to help others achieve the same. As such he was a memorable and positive influence in the lives a great many.
He remained undaunted in his faith and zeal for life until he was finally called Home. At his side were his son and daughter-in-law, Harold Austin Tate, M.D. and Kimberly M. Tate, of Las Vegas, Nevada. Harold was predeceased by his loving wife of 73 years, Mary A. Tate and daughter, Claudia C. Tate, Ph. D. Harold is lovingly remembered by his immediate and extended family: grandchildren Read Spratling Tate Hubbard, J.D. and Jerome Wilborne Lindsey, III, M.A. (Marissa), great- granddaughter Alexis Lindsey, and numerous nieces, nephews, friends, and acquaintances.
A Celebration of Life Memorial will be held at a future date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Dr. Claudia C. Tate, Ph.D. Scholarship Fund, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 29 Sunset Street, Red Bank, New Jersey 07701
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Published in Asbury Park Press on Jan. 1, 2017
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