CARROLLTON | Sam Franklin Pate, Sr., age 91, of Carrollton, died March 30, 2015, at Pickens Co. Medical Center. Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 2, 2015, at Carrollton First United Methodist Church with Rev. Penny Ford and Rev. Tom Hammons officiating with private graveside services at Carrollton City Cemetery with Skelton Funeral Home of Reform directing. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the church.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 64 years, Betty Jones Pate; father, James Hugh Pate; mother, Isabelle Clanahan Pate; and sisters, Helen Pate Junkin (Kirt) and Sara Pate Gibson (Bernard).
Survivors include his daughters, Jane Pate Quarles (Charlie) and Susan Pate Kavkewitz (Mike); son, Sam Franklin Pate, Jr. (Betty); seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Pate, a lifelong resident of Carrollton, Alabama, was born October 17, 1923. He was owner of Pate Lumber Company, Inc. and a U. S. Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of Carrollton First United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday school and served as a Chairman of the Board and Lay leader and was a supporter of youth projects and many charities. Sam Franklin was a charter member of the Lion's Club, a member of the Carrollton School Board and a Town Council member. He was known and loved for his humor, quick wit, fairness, honesty and faithfulness to church and friends and he was an avid camper.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, Franklin H. Pate, David H. Pate, Andrew C. Wade, Luther F. Pippen, Jacob Kavkewitz and Sam Kavkewitz.
Honorary pallbearers are Melinda McDaniel, Sue Yarbrough, Micki Graham, Hazel Huffman, Alfred Acker, Arthur Duckworth, members of the Adult Sunday School Class of Carrollton United Methodist Church, Betty Taggart and members of the Pace Class of the Pickens County Medical Center Healthplex.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Carrollton First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 145, Carrollton, AL 35447.