A Celebration of Life for Orville G. “Jack” Tate, age 95 years, of Enid is Monday, June 5, 2017 at the First United Methodist Church of Enid. Reverend Randy Mitchell will officiate with burial to follow in Memoria Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Sunday, June 4, 2017 at Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.
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Jack was born July 19, 1921 in Vinita, Oklahoma to Orville Tate and Anna Elizabeth (Scanlon) Tate, and passed away Wednesday, May 31, 2017 in Enid.
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Jack graduated from Centralia High School in 1938 and from Oklahoma A & M (OSU) in 1941 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. He served his country in the United States Army during WWII, and was honorably discharged. He married Arlene Ruth Summers November, 1941 and to the marriage eight children were born; John, Gary, Carol, Sandra, James, Robert, Susan, and Roger. In 1945 the family moved to Enid and purchased the Enid Recreation Center. In 1957 Jack and other business owners built Trail Lanes, which featured the first automatic pin setting machines in northwest Oklahoma. After commercial success, in 1960, he built and operated Shamrock Bowl also in Enid. In 1976 he built and operated Oakwood Bowl until his retirement at age 90, with his family continuing to operate the business. After Arlene’s passing in 1990, he married Ginny Gregory in 1994, and added two more children to the marriage, Rob Gregory and Mary Gregory.
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Jack won many local and national awards: Enid Hall of Fame in 1988, Oklahoma Bowling Hall of Fame in 1997, Lifetime Achievement - Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce in 2017, Proprietor of the year in 1996, the Pioneer Award from the Oklahoma Bowling Industry, and ABC Hall of Fame. He founded the Las Vegas Tournament & ran it for almost 30 years. He also started the Turnaround Achievement Awards Breakfast for area high schools students which has been held for 24 years and still going strong. Jack loved giving the kids special recognition, and the family will carry on his tradition.
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Jack enjoyed everything to do with bowling and the bowling alley; he also loved all sports, especially OU football and the Oklahoma City Thunder. When he listened to music, he wanted to hear Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys.
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He is preceded in death by his parents, Orville and Anna Tate, wife Arlene Tate, and two brothers, Harold and Pete Tate.
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Jack is survived by his wife Ginny, of the home in Enid; ten children, John Tate and wife Donna, of Waukomis; Gary Tate, of Enid; Carol Larson and husband Gary, of Irvine, CA; Sandra Davis of Moore, OK; James Tate and wife Sandy, of Enid; Robert Tate of Strasburg, CO; Susan Tate of Irvine, CA; Roger Tate of Oklahoma City; Rob Gregory of Enid; and Mary Gregory, of Los Angeles; nineteen grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and one great-grandchild on the way; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and many friends.
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Memorials in Jack’s name may be made to the Oakwood Bowl Gran Prix Youth Scholarship Fund with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home serving as custodian of the funds.
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Condolences may be made to the family online at www.LadusauEvans.com. Ladusau-Evans has been serving the families of the Enid Community and surrounding areas for over 40 years with compassionate service and dedication. They provide families with an open door policy. Feel free to contact them 24 hours a day. Visitation Hours: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm daily, 2800 N. Van Buren, Enid, OK 73703. Call: (580) 233-1400.
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