WILLIAM CATE

NEWARK -- William Edward "Bill" Cate, 79, a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died in his sleep Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006, at home.  Funeral: 1 p.m. Wednesday at Springtown Church of Christ. John Anderson, minister of Mid-Cities Church of Christ, and Jerome Williams, song leader, will officiate. Burial: Following services in the church, Bill will be laid to rest in Mount Olivet Cemetery.  Bearers of his casket will be Ben Bennington, Cody Cate, Ryan Cate, Wes Hardy, Joe Don Kubes, Rusty Miller and Heath Robertson. The Fort Worth Fire Department will provide an honor guard.  Visitation: He will lie in state on Tuesday in the Parlor at Robertson Mueller Harper; his family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Great Room.  Memorials: Contributions may be made to the Fireman's Fund; or to a charity of choice in memory of Bill.  A native of Birdville, Bill was born Sept. 8, 1927, the son of Robert Lee and Mary Elizabeth Greener Cate.  He married the former Melba Stowe in 1946. The couple celebrated their 60-year wedding anniversary during the spring.  Bill retired in 1988 as a fire engineer with the Fort Worth Fire Department. He had completed 36 years of service.  Survivors: Wife, Melba Stowe Cate; children, Ed Cate and his wife, Cheryl, Saretta Cate Rowland and her husband, Gerald, and Garry Cate and his wife, Betty; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; sister, Margie Cate Gibb of Seattle, Wash.; and a multitude of friends and comrades in the fire department. Robertson Mueller Harper Funerals & Cremations 1500 Eighth Ave., 817-924-4233 To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of WILLIAM CATE please visit our Sympathy Store.