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Memorial for Thomas Edgar Ates
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Born in Milton, Florida on Apr. 25, 1926
Departed on Feb. 1, 2009 and resided in Greenwood, SC.
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| Visitation: |
Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009
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| Graveside Service: |
Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009
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Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions.
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TOM ATES
Thomas Edgar "Tom" Ates, 82, resident of 142 Crescent Road, husband of Betty Scott Ates, died February 1, 2009 at Hospice House after a long and courageous battle against cancer.
Born April 25, 1926 in Milton, FL, he was a son of the late Thomas and Julia Pyburn Ates. He was a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Milton High School. He joined the US Navy at the age of 17, and served aboard the USS J. William Ditter, a mine layer that was damaged by kamikaze aircraft attacks during the invasion of Okinawa. He also served aboard the USS North Carolina and the USS Helena. His tour of duty took him to Bermuda, Okinawa, China and the Panama Canal. Upon leaving the Navy he returned to Florida and studied math at Florida State University, where he was a charter member of Phi Kappa Tau and graduated in 1952. After graduation he and Betty moved to Pensacola and started his career at Chemstrand. He was later transferred to Greenwood in 1960 to help start the Monsanto plant. He retired from Monsanto in 1982.
Last year Mr. Ates received his certificate of 50 years of service from the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Florida. He was a member of the Escambia Lodge #15 in Pensacola. During his 25 years of retirement he enjoyed fishing, hunting, golf and tending his yard and garden.
Mr. Ates was a member of the First Baptist Church of Greenwood.
He loved and protected his family and will be greatly missed.
Surviving in addition to his wife of the home are two daughters, Pam and husband, Jim Holcombe of Irmo and Melonie Ates and husband, Dan Gaither of Greer; two sons, Thomas Ates of Jay, FL and Richard Ates of Greenwood; granddaughters, Heather and husband, Bob Bundy of Beaufort, Hannah and husband, Ty Merritt of Ladson, Teresa and husband, Joe Viera of Pueblo, CO; a grandson, Chris and wife, Lisa Holcombe of Columbia; 4 great-granddaughters and 2 great-grandsons; a sister, Pat Fleming of Milton, FL; a sister-in-law, Maude Ates of Opelika, AL. He was predeceased by a sister, Peggy A. Adams and a brother, W.F. "Buck" Ates.
Graveside services with military and Masonic rites will be conducted at 3:30 Tuesday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens.
Honorary pallbearers will be Gales McClintock, Jerry Latham, Jimmy Burns, Gil Kilgore, Bobby Earnhart, Dave Free, Bill Free, Randy Free and Bill Noble.
The family is at the home in Kimbrook and will receive friends at Blyth Funeral Home from 2 to 3 Tuesday afternoon.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Ave., Greenwood, SC 29646 or to First Baptist Church of Greenwood, 722 Grace Street, Greenwood, SC 29649.
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