On Thursday, September 19, 2019, Robert Erroll (Bob) Pate, loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away at the age of 81. Bob was born on December 22, 1937 on a cotton farm near Groesbeck, Tx. His name at first was Bobby Erroll Pate, and later changed to Robert Erroll Pate. He was raised by his grandparents, J. R. & Carrie Todd Pate who raised him until he reached eleven years of age. His Grandmother signed him for a boys’ camp, which was sponsored by the Dallas Salesmanship Club. The camp was called Camp Woodland Springs and was located at 112 South Jim Miller Rd. Dallas, Tx. The camp was primarily for boys who were juvenile delinquent type. At the time Bob did not know this. He visited the camp for 3 weeks in the summer and thought that he was through with the whole camp thing, until his grandmother, while crying, told him that he had to return to the camp permanently. While there, he was taught to learn by doing, rather than returning to a regular school classroom. That was his indoctrination to an outdoor lifestyle which lasted more than five years, although he was allowed to attend school at Pleasant Grove after turning thirteen years of age. After graduating Pleasant Grove High School, Bob received a job at Skillern’s Drug Warehouse in Dallas, Tx where he worked until turning 18 and passing a Civil Service exam. They permitted him to work at the U.S. Post Office Terminal Annex in Dallas. Bob worked at the post office until December 1956, when he took a military leave of absence and joined the USAF. He went to basic training then later on went to tech school. Bob was selected to attend a Cryptographic school at Scott AFB, Illinois, where he went until being notified that he would be shipped to Ramstein, Germany, where he stayed until August 1960. He returned to Lancaster, Tx., and again worked at the U.S. Post Office, where he had earned four raises during his military leave. Bob got married and transferred to Washington D.C., where he was employed as a Cryptographer for the Department of State. He stayed at this position until transferring to Meacham field, Ft. Worth, Tx., where he was employed as a communications specialist. This job lasted until he was able to transfer to the Ft. Worth Air Route Traffic Control Center, near Euless, Tx., where he began his career as an air traffic controller. He made it from a GS-6 to a GS-13 in three years and was promoted to GS-14 in 1977. He served at the GS-14 Air Traffic Controller until being promoted to GM-15 Area Supervisor in 1984, where he stayed until he retired on January 3, 1992, after serving a total of 36 years of U.S. Government service. Along the way Bob enjoyed being able to attend college Tarrant County Junior College and Texas Wesleyan College, where he graduated with double majors in Business Administration and Aviation Management, all of which was paid for by the Veterans Administration for which he was very thankful. He highly recommended that anyone who desires to follow his footsteps, in growing up, going to school, military and FAA. to know it was hard work and t has been a good life. Be is very thankful to the Man upstairs who was the One who led him into the various designs in his life. Bob is survived by close and loving family: wife, Virginia (Jinx) Caffey Pate, her daughters, Marcy Sauer (& Neal Sauer), Mineola, Tx, Cheryl Femath, Garland, Tx. Grandsons, Kyle Femath, Nathan Starnes, Garland, Tx., Logan Lantrip, Richardson, Tx. Granddaughters, Marissa Termin (& Lukas) & Brenna Dustin (& Boomer), Garland, Tx. Kayley Lantrip, McKinney, Tx and special family friend, Rachel Ordonez. He has a number of extended family members, particularly through Virginia's family groups. He would want you to know that he was saved and baptized at their home church, FBC of Gresham, TX, last fall. His last six years of Bible Study have left an indelible mark for the good on his life. Funeral Services are scheduled for 3:00 pm Sunday, September 22, 2019 at Beaty Funeral Home Chapel in Mineola. Interment will follow at Hawkins Cemetery in Hawkins, The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 3:00 pm Sunday at the funeral home.