Mr. Charles Tate (1st SGT), 82 of Morganton, departed this earthly life on Monday November 14, 2022 at his residence.  Born on April 16, 1940 in Burke County, he was the son of the late Francis Tate and Minnie Lou Wilkerson Tate.  He was educated in the Burke County School System and graduated from Olive Hill High School.  Charles was a hard worker, having worked at several manufacturing plants in the area including Drexel Heritage, Dixie Container, and Great Lakes Carbon, where he retired as a supervisor.  He also faithfully served his country for 36 years through the Army National guard, retiring on November 13, 1999 as a First Sergeant.  Charles was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church where he served as an usher.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother James Tate; sisters Mary Francis Surratt, Catherine Tate, and Fannie Crawford.

Left to cherish his precious memories is his wife Thelma of the home; daughters Daphney Lipford (Mike) and Sandra Tate of Morganton; sons Charles Kenneth Tate of Morganton and Bruce Anthony Tate (Carrie) of Wisconsin; brother Theodore "Pluto" Roosevelt Tate of Morganton; sisters Maryland Tate of South Carolina and Gloria Dula of Texas; and a host of grandchildren great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A funeral service honoring the life of Mr. Charles Tate will be held Saturday December 3, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. in the Corpening Memorial Chapel of McCain Funeral Home & Cremations, LLC; interment will follow at Burke Memorial Park.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Mr. Tate may be also be viewed on Friday December 2 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.