Thomas Wilburn Pate

August 23, 1932 - January 18, 2021

Thomas Wilburn Pate, 88, passed away peacefully on January 18, 2021 surrounded by his loved ones at his home in Bethany, Oklahoma. Tom was born in Cement, Oklahoma to Albert and Modean (nee: Dees) Pate. He met and married his first wife Erma Kay Shook in Broken Arrow, OK. Kay preceded him in death in 1987. He married Carol (Grizzle) Pate in 2010 in Bethany, OK. Tom joined the U.S. Army at age 16. Upon leaving the Army, Tom worked as a Structural Mechanic for Rockwell International and as a Structural Assembler on B-47 bombers with Douglas Aircraft in Tulsa, OK before moving to Titusville, Florida to work on the Gemini and Apollo programs at the Kennedy Space Center for 15 years. He loved working at the Cape and being involved in the nation's space program. In later years, he owned a small business in Tulsa, OK. Tom was a man who was generous to a fault. He loved to tinker in the garage and could fix just about anything or at least tear it apart. He taught his children honesty, kindness and generosity. He loved music and had a wonderful sense of humor. Tom is survived by wife Carol (Grizzle) Pate, his two children from his first marriage, Brent Pate (Georganna), and Annette Konicek (Tim), and two grandchildren Nick Vieira and Kayln Pate He is further survived by brother Ross Pate. He was preceded in death by his parents; William Albert and Lillian Modean Pate, and his siblings; Elba (E.C.) Pate, Earldean Bruno, Edna Lee, W. A. (Dub) Pate, and Margaret (Mae) Petrin. Per his wishes, no Memorial service is planned.