Paul “Pee Wee” Gates

Employed by Community

Cash Stores for 48 years

WOODRUFF – Paul "Pee Wee" Gates, 83, of 1561 Switzer Road died Sunday, June 26, 2005, at Spartanburg Hospital for Restorative Care.

Mr. Gates was born on Sept. 24, 1921, in Switzer and was a son of the late James M. Gates and the late Gladys Lucinda Turner Gates. Mr. Gates was employed for 48 years with Community Cash Stores and held the title for 35 years as Manager of the Union Street Store and later retired as Superintendent of Meat Operations. He was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Switzer, where he served as church treasurer for 20 years and was a lifetime deacon. Mr. Gates was also a Mason in Bethel Lodge 112, York Rite, Hejaz Shriners, and Knights Templer.

He was a veteran in the U.S.

Army Air Corp, serving as a sergeant in

charge of surgical nurses at the Lincolnton, Neb., Air Base. He also played on the U.S. Champion Army Air Corp Softball Team as a catcher. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Gladys Roper Gates; a son, Donnie P. Gates and his wife, Toni, of Gaffney; a brother in-law, Ralph J. Roper of Palm Springs, Calif.; a sisterin law, Shirley Roper Henson of Wellford; four grandchildren, Heidi Gates Godfrey of Converse, Brandon P. Gates of Philadelphia, Pa., Caroline M. Gates of Gaffney and Nikki Graham Pruitt of Duncan.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Gates was predeceased by a son, Jimmy W. Gates; and two brothers, John M. Gates and James Robert "Bub" Gates.

Friends and family may attend visitation today at Lanford Dunbar Funeral Home from 7-8:30 p.m. Masonic Rites will be held prior to visitation at 6:30 p.m.

Funeral services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Switzer, officiated by the Rev. Jimmy Skinner, Tim Huckaby, Ronnie G. Williams and Daniel Godfrey. Interment will follow in First Baptist Church of Switzer Cemetery.

Memorials may be made in memory of Mr. Gates to First Baptist Church of Switzer, 1634 Old Switzer Road, Moore, S.C. 29369.

Online condolences may be made at www.lanforddunbar. com.