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William Tate Obituary
Bill spent most of his life in Mobile, from the age of three, and relocated to Stockton at the age of seventy-one. He was a graduate of University Military School "UMS'' in 1962. He received an associate's degree from Marion Military Institute, in Marion, Alabama, a bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, and was awarded a Master of Elementary Education degree from the University of South Alabama. He was an active member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity and the Spring Hill Disc Club, an ultimate frisbee team. His teaching career encompassed schools in South Carolina, Florida, and his native Mobile, Alabama.
Bill was a faithful member of Forest Hill United Methodist Church in Mobile, as a trustee, member of the choir, and a youth leader. He will be remembered for his unwavering kindness, generosity, sense of humor and his nurturing disposition to all. His generosity continues past life, as he has donated his body to science and medical research at the University of South Alabama Anatomical Gifts Program.
Bill enjoyed the rural lifestyle of North Baldwin County (having been raised on a farm in West Mobile) and the relaxed vibe of river life on the Tensaw River with his beloved wife Kathy and countless friends. He was an avid golfer in his retirement years and was actively involved in the Lower Bryant Landing Spirit Group.
A celebration of life will be held at a date yet to be determined and the family requests memorials be sent to Stockton Presbyterian Church, PO Box 438, Stockton, Alabama 36579.
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Michele Gonzalez
March 4, 2024
I came by to visit Cathy at their home in Mobile. He was so gracious and kind to me. Just a beautiful person.
Lee Tate
March 3, 2024
Lee Tate
March 3, 2024
Lee Tate
March 3, 2024
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Lee Tate
March 3, 2024
Lee Tate
March 3, 2024
Lee Tate
March 3, 2024
Bill is both my uncle (my father´s brother) and my godfather. He was one of a kind to be sure. He was good-natured, gregarious and cherished time spent with his friends. He loved the beach and a cold beer, and was always up for a Frisbee toss...a hobby for which he had considerable proficiency and a lifelong passion.
In his 20´s and 30´s Bill had a number of cool hobbies that I found fascinating as a young boy. He played piano, sailed catamarans, rode a motorcycle, shot archery with a recurve bow, went snow skiing...he even owned & piloted an Ultralight aircraft for a year or two...a hobby that was short lived as it terrified his mother every time he´d take off from a pasture on the horse farm we all lived on with my grandparents in West Mobile.
Bill and I were both KA´s, and he spent a lot of time in his early, post-college, years with his Kappa Alpha brothers at the University of South AL where he played and taught the sport of Ultimate (disc).
He was often recognized around Mobile, Dauphin Island and the Gulf beaches for his blue 1967 Ford Mustang convertible, which he drove for 50 years. When it started falling apart after 25´ish years of daily use, Bill would somewhat skillfully replace broken bumpers, fenders, doors, kayak racks, etc. with parts that he built out of wood. It became sort of an inside joke as to how long he could keep his locally iconic "Bluehorse" running. It far outlived a typical car´s lifespan and probably deserves an honorable mention in the Mustang hall of fame.
Aside from our mutual hobbies of skiing, Frisbee and traditional archery, Bill and I both were fans of science fiction and shared a curiosity for the enormity of the universe. In recent years we´d frequently email each other articles about cool new discoveries in space. We were both fascinated by images sent back from the James Webb telescope.
He was one of those guys that those who knew him could tell fun/funny stories about for days. He was quite a character and will certainly be missed.
Paul Allen Fox
March 3, 2024
Billy and I have enjoyed many FUN endeavors together for 65+ years. I have fond memories of such occasions that included brewing beer in basement of his parents house, numerous canoe & sailing excursions, worshipping together, pledging same High School Fraternity (Phi Kappa) being fellow Alumni of Marion Military Institute, where he was most proud of his selection as member of "MMI Knights Precision Drill Team". I'll make donation to MMI Knights in memory of Cadet Billy (1962-1964) with acknowledgments to his wife, Kathy, and brother, Jim. We continually stayed in touch, with latest connection being just a few days ago. GOD BLESS
Bruce
March 3, 2024
I just randomly met Bill one day a Holly Hills Golf Course. We were both walking the course and somehow we just started talking and ended up playing the rest of the course together. Heck of a man! My condolences to Bill´s family.
Susan
March 3, 2024
He was a faithful friend and our oldest son´s godfather. He lived his life laughing and always helping others. He made us laugh and cry and made us shake our heads with his antics. Richard and I are missing him terribly. He was a force of nature and had the back of everyone.
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