TATE, Robert James, 68, of Ashland, Va., died February 2, 2023 of complications from a decade of decline due to Frontotemporal Dementia. He was born in Richmond, Va. in 1954 and was proud to be a Virginian. Tate was a graduate of Hermitage High School, class of 1972, where he played football and ran track and field, all of which he continued under scholarship at Concord University, Athens, W.Va. He graduated from CU with a degree in Business Administration; he was a member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity.
In 1977, Robert was hired as a salesman at Old Dominion Tractor & Equipment Company, Inc in Richmond and retired 40 years later as a co-owner. It was the perfect job for him, combining his passion for farming with his mechanical skill and salesmanship; he also enjoyed mentoring young mechanics and was proud of their successes. Robert's favorite place on earth was "Almosta Farm" in Beaverdam where the family raises Black Angus beef cattle. It was there that he spent many satisfying hours on his tractor, baling hay, working cattle, enjoying the open land and being outdoors.
Robert was predeceased by his parents, James A. "Shorty" Tate and Doris Hughes Tate. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Julie VanMetre Tate; sons, James B. "Jeb" Tate (Jennifer) of Denton, Md. and Robert "Lee" Tate of Beaverdam; adored granddaughter, Jamie L. Tate of Denton, Md.; sister, Jane T. Geoghegan (Wayde) of Glen Allen; an aunt, uncles and many cousins who were loved like sisters and brothers.
The family offers heartfelt appreciation to the staff at Alpha House Memory Care in Ashland, for their months of compassionate caregiving.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 11, at Ashland Presbyterian Church, 401 Virginia Street, Ashland; the family will receive friends an hour prior to the service and at a luncheon afterward.
Lindy L. Longest (Harvell)
TATE, Robert James, 68, of Ashland, Va., died February 2, 2023 of complications from a decade of decline due to Frontotemporal Dementia. He was born in Richmond, Va. in 1954 and was proud to be a Virginian. Tate was a graduate of Hermitage High School, class of 1972, where he played football and ran track and field, all of which he continued under scholarship at Concord University, Athens, W.Va. He graduated from CU with a degree in Business Administration; he was a member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity.
In 1977, Robert was hired as a salesman at Old Dominion Tractor & Equipment Company, Inc in Richmond and retired 40 years later as a co-owner. It was the perfect job for him, combining his passion for farming with his mechanical skill and salesmanship; he also enjoyed mentoring young mechanics and was proud of their successes. Robert's favorite place on earth was "Almosta Farm" in Beaverdam where the family raises Black Angus beef cattle. It was there that he spent many satisfying hours on his tractor, baling hay, working cattle, enjoying the open land and being outdoors.
Robert was predeceased by his parents, James A. "Shorty" Tate and Doris Hughes Tate. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Julie VanMetre Tate; sons, James B. "Jeb" Tate (Jennifer) of Denton, Md. and Robert "Lee" Tate of Beaverdam; adored granddaughter, Jamie L. Tate of Denton, Md.; sister, Jane T. Geoghegan (Wayde) of Glen Allen; an aunt, uncles and many cousins who were loved like sisters and brothers.
The family offers heartfelt appreciation to the staff at Alpha House Memory Care in Ashland, for their months of compassionate caregiving.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 11, at Ashland Presbyterian Church, 401 Virginia Street, Ashland; the family will receive friends an hour prior to the service and at a luncheon afterward.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts be made in memory of Robert to Circle Center Adult Day Services, 4900 West Marshall Street, Richmond 23230 www.circlecenterva.org or Ashland Presbyterian Church www.ashlandpresbyterian.org or to a charity of choice.