SHERMAN - Funeral services for Richard Harry Pate Sr. will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, December 18 at Waldo Funeral Home. Rev. Scott Leslie of the Crossroads Presbyterian Church will officiate. Committal services with military honors will be held at West Hill Cemetery on Tuesday, December 20 at 9 a.m. Mr. Pate, 79, passed away Thursday, December 15 at Texoma Medical Center.

Richard was born December 30, 1936 in Durant to the late Charles and Ethel (Slater) Pate. Mr. Pate proudly served in the US Army. He was a paratrooper, drill instructor, and member of the US Army National Pistol Team. After his military service, Mr. Pate began a teaching and coaching career that lasted 31 years. His first job was in Georgetown in 1970. He also coached in Westminster and Collinsville, before retiring from Princeton ISD in 1997. On November 19, 1960, Richard and Judy Cleveland were married in Durant, Oklahoma. Mr. Pate was a member of the Crossroads Presbyterian Church and the National Rifle Association.

Mr. Pate is survived by his son, Richard H. Pate, Jr. of Sherman; daughter, Marianne Brummett and husband Doug of Blue Ridge; two grandchildren, Clayton Edward Brummett and wife Jordan of Trenton and Paige Leianne Brummett of Bonham; two great grandchildren, Icye Klaire Brummett and Malakhi Edward Brummett; two brothers, Gordon "Boo" Pate of Georgetown, TX. and Paul G. Pate of Sherman; and multiple nieces and nephews. Mr. Pate was preceded in death by his parents, wife, three sisters, and two brothers.

The family received friends from 4-6 p.m. Saturday at Waldo Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Crossroads Presbyterian Church at 15642 State Hwy 160 Blue Ridge, TX 75424 or the at PO Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123. The register book can be signed online at waldofuneralhome.com.