Raymond L. Tate Sr. 78, of Franklin, died Thursday February 28, 2008, at the Franklin Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, following a long illness. He was the husband of the late Shirley M. (Kennedy) Tate, who died June 22, 2007.
Born in Hallsville, Mo., Feb. 26, 1930, a son of the late James and Amanda (Connelson) Tate, he lived in Franklin for more than 50 years.
Mr. Tate was a machinist by trade, and retired as foreman at the former Kendall Mills Co. in Walpole, where he worked for many years.
He served in the Navy during the Korean conflict. He received the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Unit Citation, the Presidential Unit Citation and the Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged in October 1956.
He was a member of the Franklin Senior Citizens and the American Association of Retired Persons, and his hobbies and interests included his grandchildren, gardening and yard sales.
He is survived by two sons, Mark T. Tate of Franklin and Jeffrey R. Tate and his wife, Karen, of Taunton; a daughter, Catherine L. Vaillancourt of Millbury; five grandchildren, Adam, James and Kevin Tate, and Marissa and Brooke Vaillancourt. He was also the father of the late Raymond L. Tate Jr.
A private funeral service will be held for family on Monday. Interment will take place at the family lot in Union Street Cemetery, Franklin. There are no public calling hours. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Charles F. Oteri & Son Franklin Funeral home, 33 Cottage St., www.franklinfuneral.com.