Robert L. Tate, Lisa Apodaca's father, of Forest City

FOREST CITY — Robert Lewis Tate, 78, of U.S. Highway 221 South, Forest City, died Friday, Oct. 18, at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, a day and a half after suffering a medical condition while driving on U.S. 221.

Tate was the father of Lisa Tate Apodaca, the wife of state Sen. Tom Apodaca of Hendersonville.

The Forest City Daily Courier reported that Mr. Tate suffered a medical condition that caused his car to go off the road. He was taken by ambulance to the Spartanburg hospital.
Born March 26, 1935, in Rutherford County to the late Roy and Ethel Alexander Tate, he was retired from Stonecutter Mills Corporation, where he was Superintendent of Preparation. He was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church and served as a deacon and on various church committees. He served 12 years in the North Carolina National Guard. A former board member of the Shiloh-Danieltown-Oakland Volunteer Fire Department, he was currently serving as Treasurer of the Fireman's Relief Fund.

Tate was a true sportsman and an avid quail hunter.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, William V. Tate, and his sisters Pauline Tate, Jean Carpenter and Christine White. Robert was a devoted husband and a loving father and grandfather.
Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Toms Tate, of the home, a daughter, Lisa Tate Apodaca and her husband, Sen. Tom Apodaca, of Hendersonville; a sister, Lois Tate Goode and her husband Francis of Rutherfordton, and two grandchildren, Brandon Apodaca and Tate Apodaca, both of Hendersonville.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, at New Bethel Baptist Church with the Revs. Stephen Matheny and Ad Hopper officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends following the graveside service at the church on Sunday afternoon.
Memorials may be made to New Bethel Baptist Church Building Fund, 223 New Bethel Church Road, Forest City, NC 28043. The Padgett and King Mortuary of Forest City is in charge of arrangements. An online guest registry is available at www.padgettking.com.