Oscar Pate

Oscar R. Pate, the son of the late Oscar J. and Frances Riley Pate, was born in Kansas City, Missouri on October 8, 1925, and passed away at the Southeast Missouri Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on February 15, 2008, at the age of 82 years, 4 months and 7 days. Mr. Pate had lived in Puxico, Missouri for the last seventeen years. He was a member of the Puxico General Baptist Church. He is a former Deacon at the Trinity General Baptist Church in Dupo, Illinois and Cahokia General Baptist Church in Cahokia, Illinois. He was a Sunday School Teacher for many years and church played a very important role in his life. His enjoyed the outdoors very much as watching the Deer and Birds. He is a veteran of the US Navy where he served during WWII. On September 23, 1974, he was married to Vivian Wilfong in Dupo, Illinois. Surviving are his wife, Vivian Wilfong of Puxico, Missouri; three sons, Bill Pate of Jackson, Missouri, Jimmy Ray Ragsdale of Branson, Missouri and Ronnie Paul Ragsdale of Willis, Texas; one daughter, Donna Garcia of Wood River, Illinois; ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Many other relatives and friends also survive. He was preceded in death by one sister, Louise Gable. Friends may call on Sunday, February 17, 2008, after 5:00 PM at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, Missouri. Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 18, 2008 at 10:00 AM in the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Puxico, Missouri with Rev. Kenneth Lambert of Bloomfield, Missouri officiating. Interment will be in the Brown Cemetery near Puxico, Missouri with Full Military Honors conducted by the American Legion Post 59 of Dexter and Missouri Military Honors. Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Puxico, Missouri is in charge of arrangements.