Wynantskill- Lowell E. “Digger” Tate, of Todd Drive, died peacefully, Monday, November 7, 2016 at Eddy Village Green following a short illness, with his devoted son, Alan, by his side.
Born in Raymertown, November 23, 1928, Digger was the son of well known local businessman and funeral director, the late Howard B. Tate and Estella Mae (Twogood) Tate and the husband for the past 48 years of the late Mary (Zwolenik) Tate, who predeceased him on August 13, 2016.
Lowell resided in Raymertown as a boy and attended the Raymertown District School. For several years after school he worked for his father at the family owned funeral home and gas station where he developed his love of automobiles, especially Cadillacs and convertibles. In the late 1940’s, he accepted a position at the former Gardenway Manufacturing Company in Troy and in 1951 began working as a crane operator at Troy Boiler Works, also in Troy. After more than 40 years of service he retired in the early 1990’s.
Lowell was a life-long member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Raymertown and enjoyed many dinners and drinks on Friday evenings with Mary as a member of the Watervliet Lodge #1500, B.P.O.E. Lowell also enjoyed traveling, especially to The Riverside at Perkins Cove, ME and Las Vegas, NV, and with Mary, frequented Foxwoods Casino and the Saratoga Racino. Among his favorite pastimes were driving his Cadillac to “Jimmy Spiak’s Garage” on sunny days and having lunch at “Duncan’s” to visit and catch up with his many old friends and neighbors.
Digger is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Alan S. and Pamela J. Tate of Brunswick, two grandsons, Alex B. Tate and Brandon P. Tate, also of Brunswick, five nieces and a nephew, Bonnie Howe of Brunswick, Mark Tate and Donna Tate-Smith both of Raymertown, Catherine Shriver of Mechanicville and Mary and Michelle Goyette, both of Ballston Spa, and several cousins. Lowell was predeceased by his brother and sister-in-law, the late Stanton H. Tate and Beverly (Hannay) Tate and his first wife, the late Veronica “Nikki” (Beauregard) Tate.
A private funeral service will be held at the Howard B. Tate & Son Funeral Home Inc., 2237 New York Route 7, located in Raymertown at the convenience of the family. Burial will take place in Eagle Mills Cemetery in Brunswick.
At the request of Lowell’s family, memorial contributions if desired, may be made to the Raymertown Volunteer Fire Company, 43 Mason Lane, Raymertown, NY 12180 in memory of Lowell E. “Digger” Tate.
Born in Raymertown, November 23, 1928, Digger was the son of well known local businessman and funeral director, the late Howard B. Tate and Estella Mae (Twogood) Tate and the husband for the past 48 years of the late Mary (Zwolenik) Tate, who predeceased him on August 13, 2016.
Lowell resided in Raymertown as a boy and attended the Raymertown District School. For several years after school he worked for his father at the family owned funeral home and gas station where he developed his love of automobiles, especially Cadillacs and convertibles. In the late 1940’s, he accepted a position at the former Gardenway Manufacturing Company in Troy and in 1951 began working as a crane operator at Troy Boiler Works, also in Troy. After more than 40 years of service he retired in the early 1990’s.
Lowell was a life-long member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Raymertown and enjoyed many dinners and drinks on Friday evenings with Mary as a member of the Watervliet Lodge #1500, B.P.O.E. Lowell also enjoyed traveling, especially to The Riverside at Perkins Cove, ME and Las Vegas, NV, and with Mary, frequented Foxwoods Casino and the Saratoga Racino. Among his favorite pastimes were driving his Cadillac to “Jimmy Spiak’s Garage” on sunny days and having lunch at “Duncan’s” to visit and catch up with his many old friends and neighbors.
Digger is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Alan S. and Pamela J. Tate of Brunswick, two grandsons, Alex B. Tate and Brandon P. Tate, also of Brunswick, five nieces and a nephew, Bonnie Howe of Brunswick, Mark Tate and Donna Tate-Smith both of Raymertown, Catherine Shriver of Mechanicville and Mary and Michelle Goyette, both of Ballston Spa, and several cousins. Lowell was predeceased by his brother and sister-in-law, the late Stanton H. Tate and Beverly (Hannay) Tate and his first wife, the late Veronica “Nikki” (Beauregard) Tate.
A private funeral service will be held at the Howard B. Tate & Son Funeral Home Inc., 2237 New York Route 7, located in Raymertown at the convenience of the family. Burial will take place in Eagle Mills Cemetery in Brunswick.
At the request of Lowell’s family, memorial contributions if desired, may be made to the Raymertown Volunteer Fire Company, 43 Mason Lane, Raymertown, NY 12180 in memory of Lowell E. “Digger” Tate.