John Tate

MARION, VIRGINIA: JOHN C. TATE, age 81, died Tuesday, March 27, 2007 in Smyth County Community Hospital. He was born June 16, 1925 in Essex County Virginia to the late John and Ruby Mills Tate. Mr. Tate was an active member of the Marion Rotary Club for many years, serving a term as president and was also a Paul Harris Fellow; a member and a Trustee of Ebenezer Lutheran Church; a member of Marion Town Council from 1964-1968; served on the Marion Zoning Appeals Board for many years and was a board member of Smyth County Community Hospital for 19 years. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in the Pacific Theatre as a hospital corpsman. He is a lifetime member of Marion V.F.W. Post #4667. He was an employee of British American Tobacco Company for 42 years, buying tobacco in Abingdon for 28 of these years. Mr. Tate was founder of John Tate, Realtors and was a charter and active member of Washington-Smyth Board of Realtors, serving as president for two separate terms. He was chosen "Realtor of the Year" in 1969. Besides his parents, he was also preceded in death by one brother, Eugene H. Tate. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Betty Bane Tate of Marion, Virginia; two daughters, Carol Edmiston and husband, Charlie, of Marion, Virginia and Susan Elizabeth Tate of Chicago, Illinois; one brother, Ernest D. Tate of Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia; one sister, Margaret Farmer and husband, Donnie, of Mechanicsville, Virginia; three grandchildren, Katie Huber, Ivan Huber and wife, Amanda, and Erin Huber; several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, March 31, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at Ebenezer Lutheran Church with Pastor James H. Bangle officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Lawn Cemetery, Marion, Virginia. The family will receive friends Friday, March 30, 2007 from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ebenezer Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 1799, Marion, Virginia 24354 or to The Salvation Army, c/o Don Wampler, 203 Larch Street, Marion, Virginia 24354. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.seaverbrown.com. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory is serving the Tate Family.