Billy Joe Tate
Billy Joe Tate
Billy Joe Tate was born August 27
th
1930
in Alba, Texas. The son of Joseph Malcomb and Marjorie Marie Tate, he was
the oldest of five siblings. Life was tough growing up and Billy
found himself living and working on various farms during his youth and
adulthood. In his late teens he worked for an oil company and as a truck
driver for a sand and gravel company.
In 1950 he enlisted in the United
States Air Force and thus started a 20 year career that saw him travel to all
corners of the US, North and South America, North Africa, and Europe.
His career had one very important
stop early on: Mountain Home Air Force Base. It was during a night on the
town in Boise that he met the woman who would become his wife for over 50
years: Gertrude Louise Hoobing. The two were married a mere six weeks
later.
For the next two decades Billy
served honorably in the Air Force while raising three sons: Billy Joe junior,
Michael and Steven.
After his time in the USAF ended,
the family settled back in Boise where he lived for the next 40 years.
Billy found work in various jobs before working as a letter carrier for
the Post Office and finally as a ditch rider for the Boise Project Board of
Control.
After suffering a heart attack in
the mid 90s, Billy retired and spent his days doing odd jobs, fixing
things, and spending time with Gertrude, who preceded him in death in 2006.
In his final years as a widower,
Billy still spent time with his family and friends, and was at one point the
caretaker of three dogs, two birds, and one cat.
Billy was preceded in death by his wife, his father (1963),
his mother (1997), and his brother Harold (1993). He is survived by three
siblings: Earl Tate, Shirley Jones, and Linda Long. He leaves
behind his three children: Billy and Cheryl Tate, Michael and Denise Tate,
Steven and Jennifer Tate, eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and
Sheryl Tate.
Family services were held on Wednesday, August 14,
2013, at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, with full military honors.
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