The Pete and Linda Tate Family Fund for Children and Youth of YCCF will benefit the children of the Spring Grove Area School District and the York County community in perpetuity.
Howard K. “Pete” Tate, Jr., 75, of York died of complications from cancer on Sunday, October 16, 2022, at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York surrounded by his family.
Born in Salisbury, NC, on May 24, 1947, Pete was the son of the late Virginia Clapper Tate and the late Howard K. Tate, Sr. He and his family lived in Mooresville, NC, until they moved to Duncansville, PA, and then later moved to Hollidaysburg, PA, where Pete graduated in the Hollidaysburg Area High School Class of 1965.
Pete was an outstanding athlete at Hollidaysburg where he lettered in four sports, Baseball, Track, Wrestling and Football. He and two other grapplers were regularly referred to as “The Wrecking Crew.” Pete was a tight end and placekicker for the Hollidaysburg Golden Tigers. Known as “The Toe,” at one time he held the record for PATs in Blair County. The Altoona Mirror continues to republish game highlights articles in its sports page “Yesteryears” section noting Pete’s contributions to the Golden Tigers’ wins in 1963 and 1964, including his outstanding extra point record.
After graduation, Pete enlisted in the United States Marine Corps but was unable to serve due to being partially deaf. Pete then returned to North Carolina to attend Mitchell College in Mooresville.
It was in high school that Pete met the love of his life, Linda Holland, on September 18, 1962, and they were married five years later. Pete was an excellent dancer and led Linda on the dance floor and in life for 60 years.
Pete began working for Dickerson Prestress and, in 1967, moved his new bride to York County where he coached Northeastern Boys Club football and played semi-professional football for the York Lions in the early 1970s.
In 1970, Pete moved his wife and two sons to Seven Valleys where their family began their long involvement in church, school, and community.
Pete received his Practical Engineer Certification from Penn State York. After 35 years of dedicated service, Pete retired from DONSCO, Inc. in Wrightsville where he was the Mechanical Engineering Supervisor.
Pete was a member of St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Loyal Order of the Moose, the Seagrave Social Club, and the Big Elk Camp in Blackwell, PA. In addition to hunting and fishing, Pete enjoyed golf and bowling and volunteering for political campaigns and was a diehard Penn State Nittany Lions Football and Pittsburgh Steelers fan. Pete was a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club of York.
Pete was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, big brother, and uncle. He is survived by his wife Linda Holland Tate and their two sons both of York, Bryan K. Tate and his husband Ralph M. Serpe, and David K. Tate and his wife Angela M. Tate, three grandchildren, Leland Tate and his wife Brianna, Katherine Louise Watson and her husband Ian, and Maarten Tate, and two step-grandsons Grant Reinaman and Zander Reinaman. He is also survived by a sister, Susan Tate Meadows and husband Dex, and four brothers, Gerald Tate and wife Debbie, Mark Tate and wife Patti, Rick Tate and wife Cindy, and Jim Tate, and numerous nieces and nephews.