Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
NameFred Thomas TATE Sr. 24,143, Obituary Mrs. Rosa Voss Tate
BirthApr 20, 1926, Alamance County, North Carolina24,470, Fred Thomas Tate Sr.
DeathAug 28, 2019470, Fred Thomas Tate Sr.
BurialParklawn Memorial Park And Menorah Gardens(Parklawn Cemetery), 12800 Viers Mills Road, Rockville, Montgomery County, Maryland470, Fred Thomas Tate Sr.
FatherEddie Lee TATE (1891-1963)
MotherRosa Delia VOSS (1895-1984)
Spouses
BirthJun 29, 1927, Preston County, West Virginia24,470, Fayetta June Yankie Tate
BurialParklawn Memorial Park And Menorah Gardens(Parklawn Cemetery), 12800 Viers Mills Road, Rockville, Montgomery County, Maryland470, Fayetta June Yankie Tate
MarriageFeb 14, 1949, Washington, District Of Columbia, United States470, Fayetta June Yankie Tate
Obituary Online notes for Fred Thomas TATE Sr.
Fred T. Tate Sr. – born 4.20.1926 – died 8.28.19 – 93 yrs old Born April 20, 1926 in Alamance County, North Carolina (Gibsonville). He joined the Navy in May 1943, and served on Naval vessels as the ship’s cook and also served in the Coast Guard for a short time before he was discharged in May 1946.
Fred came to Washington DC in 1948 and went to work for Marriott’s Hot Shoppes restaurant as a car hop. He worked 31 years for Marriott and managed restaurants in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington DC. In 1948, while working at Hot Shoppes, he met his future wife Fayetta Yankie, a waitress at the same restaurant.
In February 1949, he and Fayetta married and they had 3 children Fred Tate Jr, Anthony Tate and Sandra Tate.
In 1978, Fred retired from Marriott Hot Shoppes and opened his own restaurant, Lafayette Coffee Shop and Cafeteria on 17th and H St Wash DC. This kept him busy until 1981 when he sold the restaurant to take care of his wife, Fayetta, who passed away in February 1983.
Fred loved to be outside, working in the yard and his garden “Tater’s Patch”. He loved to cook and entertain, hosting many dinner parties and always had great super bowl parties. In 1996 he moved to Venice Florida where he enjoyed playing golf and continued to entertain his friends.
At age 75 he decided to go back to work and took on a job at the local Publix grocery store in deli dept.
As he grew older, he moved to Frederick Md in 2008 to be closer to his family. And then moved again to Richmond Virginia in 2015 to live with his daughter until 2017 when he then moved into an assisted living facility.
He is survived by three children, Fred Tate Jr and wife Kathleen, Anthony Tate and Sandra Tate. Six grandchildren, Lena Tate, Frederick Tate and wife Jill, Nicholas Tate, Ace Tate and wife Beth, Tom Gorman and Billy Gorman and wife Amy. And four great grandchildren, Hayley Gorman, Sawyer Tate, Landon Gorman and Leo Tate.
Fred is also remembered by his dear friends, Jim and Audrey Thompson. Their close friendship has lasted over 70 years.
He was a member of the VFW, American Legion and Rockville Optimist Club. His great joy was going to Las Vegas and playing the slot machines. And on the last day of his life, he played the slot machines at a local casino in Richmond.
He enjoyed life, socializing and entertaining family and friends. He had one saying that we heard many times over the years.....”I may not always be right, but I’m never wrong”. We will truly miss our Dad. He was a great man and someone we could always depend on.
470, Fred Thomas Tate Sr.
Last Modified Nov 4, 2020Created Jun 29, 2025 using Reunion for Macintosh
Created Jun 29, 2025 by Terry M. Whitesell

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