David was born March 24, 1940, in Harrison, Mo., to Curtis and Jerri Tate. He married Janice on July 8, 1962.
He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1959 and spent the next 20 years as an aircraft electrician. He served a year in Vietnam. After his Air Force career, he was a pilot for Colorado Well Service in Rangely, Colo.
In 1983, he moved the family to Fairbanks, Alaska, where he flew for the State of Alaska as a wild-land fire spotter.
In 2007, David and his wife moved to Bastrop, Texas.
David is survived by: his wife of 52 years, Janice; two brothers, Andrew and Richard Tate; and one sister, Martha Long. He raised five daughters: Yvonne Kile of Bastrop, Katherine Metcalf of Bastrop; Pam and spouse John Hansen, of Fairbanks, Alaska; Cynthia and spouse Ronnie Halcomb, of Fruita, Colo.; and Lisa Smith, of Round Rock. He had 13 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He will be greatly missed.
The family celebrated his life privately. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in David’s honor may be made to the Bastrop County Animal Shelter, 589 Coolwater Dr., Bastrop, Texas 78602.
