Vernon Gray Pate

Vernon Gray Pate, age 92, of Alloway, NJ passed away thursday, April 7th 2022.

Born in Ohatchee, AL on February 28th 1930. He was the son of Austin and Lemma Ward Pate. Mr. Pate was a US Army veteran serving from 1948-1952. He was a 1948 graduate of Salem High School where he was quarterback for the undefeated Rams that year. Vernon retired from Dupont as a lab technician in Jackson Lab for over 30 years. Vernon spent much of his adult life working with the Boy Scouts of America, mentoring young men to appreciate the outdoors and to be good citizens. As an Alloway troop 5 scoutmaster he completed a 50 mile hike and a 50 mile canoe trip and earned the Silver Beaver Award. One of his proudest moments was when his son, Don, earned the title of Eagle Scout. Vernon was also a past president of the Salem County Stompers, part of the Thursday crew at Camp Roosevelt and worked at Apple Farm. He enjoyed woodworking (operating his own sawmill), hunting (traveling to Maine, Virginia and Colorado) and traveling to Hawaii, Alaska and many trips to Florida. Vernon is survived his son Don (Michelle) of Lower Alloways Creek; daughters, Gail Pate of Bridgeton, Joy Pate (Bruce Sherf) of State College, PA and Amy Pate of Black Mountain, NC: grandchildren, Zachary Pate(Shelbi), Andrew Pate, Jessica Pate; and great grandson Cecil Austin Pate; sisters Sue Dolbow and Gloria Jean Ziatas. He is predeceased by his wife, Shirley Shipman Pate; sisters Doris Myers and Patti Naaman; and grandson Evan Eisenbrey.

Services will be held at 11am Saturday, April 16th in Woodside Funeral Home, 613 Salem Quinton Rd., Salem, NJ 08079(Quinton Twp) where friends may call after 10am. Burial will be at Aldine Methodist Cemetery. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Cherie Schafer for the care and compassion that she had given to Vernon over the last 4 years as well as Christina Clark for being there with him during his final hours.

Donations in Vernon's memory may be sent to the Alloway Township Ambulance Corps., PO Box 123, Alloway, NJ 08001.

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