Roscoe Charles Tate

Roscoe Charles Tate, age 95, died peacefully at home the morning of August 4, 2008. Alberta Henderson Tate, his wife of 44 years, passed away in 1984. He is survived by his two sons: James Roscoe Tate of St. Leonard, Maryland, and Albert Lee Tate of Atlanta, Georgia; six grandchildren: Virginia Isaacson of Huntingtown, Maryland; Devon Millward of American Fork, Utah; Amy Medford of Clarkston, Georgia; Benjamin Tate of Atlanta, Georgia; Emily Tate of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Nathan Tate of Atlanta, Georgia and five great grandchildren. Surviving family includes five of seven siblings: Iris Jones of Broxton, Georgia; Ellena Mayfield of Grayson, Georgia; Lynora Sapp of Athens, Georgia; James Tate of Denton, Georgia; and Eugene Tate of Denton, Georgia. Roscoe was born in Lumpkin County, GA on April 28, 1913. He grew up on his grandfather’s farm, then moved to South GA, living in Broxton and Waycross before the family farm was established in Jeff Davis County. He served four years in the USMC as a “China Marine” in Shanghai. After leaving the Marine Corps, he attended GA Tech and finished in Mechanical Engineering. At graduation, he was commissioned an officer in the US Army/Air Force and served on the General’s Staff at Lowery Air Force Base in Denver, CO as Base Ordinance Officer. Roscoe was released from the Armed Forces shortly after WWII ended, and spent the remainder of his career with the Georgia Department of Transportation. When he retired in 1973, he was Director of the Utilities Division of GDOT. Roscoe and Alberta then moved to Jekyll Island, Ga. where he lived for 33 years. He has lived in Atlanta for the past 2 years with his son Albert.  Roscoe Tate devoted his life to the service of his country, his state and his family. He was a faithful servant of the Lord throughout his long life, and his accomplishments were many – including the design of much of Georgia’s Interstate Highway System. This world is a better place because of his life.  Funeral services will be held at Alexander's Gateway Funeral Home, ClevelandGA. at 2PM, Friday August 8^th, 2008. There will be a viewing Thursday, August 7, 2008, at A. S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home in Decatur, GA from 6:30 pm until 9:00 PM. On Friday morning the family will receive visitors at their Cleveland home (60 Green Street) after 11:00 AM . The viewing at Alexander’s Gateway Funeral Home will be at 1:00 PM prior to the funeral. A. S. Turner & Sons