Ralph Hamilton Tate, Jr. was born on October 5, 1921 at Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland, the first child of Ralph and Marquerite Tate. Born into a military family, he grew up with life experiences that many could only dream of, having lived and traveled in the Philippines, Japan and China prior to World War II. After Pearl Harbor, he volunteered as an Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet, serving in the China-Burma-India Theater, flying supplies over the Himalayas into China for the Flying Tigers until the end of the war. In November of 1946, while flying a C-47 from Vienna to Rome, he crashed in the Swiss Alps. Miraculously, all twelve passengers and crew survived, including his mother, who later wrote about the experience in Twelve Walked Away.


With an honorable discharge from the Army Air Corps, he attended Michigan State on the G.I. Bill. While attending school, he met Ruth Elizabeth Borsos. Ralph and Ruth were married on June 18, 1949 and moved to Santa Barbara, California to complete his education. Following the onset of the Korean War, Ralph returned to active duty in the Air Force as a pilot, continuing to serve until retiring in August of 1971 as a Lieutenant Colonel. His retirement culminated 30 years of service in the defense of his country. During his career, he served in Tezpur, India; Vienna, Austria; Rhine Meine, Germany; Thule AB, Greenland; Syracuse, New York; Westover AFB, Maryland; Presque Isle, Maine; Malmstrom AFB, Montana; Nakon Phanom AB, Thailand; and Offutt AFB, Nebraska.


While in Montana, the family enjoyed the Base Saddle Blub, with two horses, and the Great Falls Antique Car Club. Ralph restored a 1930 Model A Coupe, complete with rumble seat. Sunday afternoons would regularly find the Tate family exploring the eastern plains of Montana, with the three kids in the rumble seat, and Ralph and Ruth in the coupe, driving down obscure roads, with no idea of where they were.


Following his Air Force career, Ralph continued to serve as a Junior ROTC Instructor at Bellevue High School in Nebraska, later as a member of the Bellevue Planning Commission, and Bellevue School Board, until 1984. When his sons received appointments to the Air Force Academy, Ralph became an Academy Liaison Officer, and was instrumental in helping many of his students also receive appointments to the Academy. After living in Bellevue for 18 years, Ralph and Ruth lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, later in Oak Harbor, Washington, before settling at Evergreen Retirement Community at Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 2001.


Of all the characteristics that Ralph had, one of the more memorable was his distinctive laugh. His was a genuine, from the bottom of his heart, kind of laugh, expressing the joy of life to its fullest. His family wishes to express their deepest appreciation and gratitude to Evergreen Retirement Community for the many friendships, excellent care, and unparalleled support they have received over the years.


Ralph served as deacon and elder in the Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Tate; a brother, Gaylord Tate; his children, Janet (Harold) Clark III of Oshkosh, Ralph (Carolyn) Tate III of Omaha, Nebraska, and David (Linda) Tate of Louisville, Kentucky; 14 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.


Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 24, 2009 at 2:30 p.m. in Evergreen Retirement Community Chapel, 1130 North Westfield Street, with Reverend Thomas Willadsen officiating. Ralph's family will greet visitors following the service. Expressions of sympathy may be given to Evergreen Care Assurance in Ralph's memory. Please visit www.seefeldfuneral.com to send online condolences to the family.


Seefeld Funeral and
Cremation Services
(920) 236-7750