Rita Pate

Rita Emily (Dupre’) Pate, 75 of Milton, Florida, passed away after a short battle with cancer on Sunday, September 9, 2018. Rita was born in Lafayette, Louisiana on September 14, 1942, to parents Lawrence T. Dupre’ Sr. and Rita Amy Soileau Dupre’. She was oldest of eight children. She joined the U.S. Navy in 1962 and was stationed in Millington, TN where she met her husband of 30 years, Charles S. Pate, who preceded her in death in November of 1995. She traveled with him to various duty stations as a Navy wife for the rest of his Navy career until his retirement in 1976 where they settled in Milton. She is preceded in death by her father; step-father; and her youngest sister, Cathy Dupre Coleman. Rita is survived by her sons, Charles S. Pate II and his wife Lisa of Milton, and Colin M. Pate and his wife Susan of Milton; her grandchildren, Jennifer McDaniel and husband Jonathan of Jacksonville, FL, Amber Pate of Milton, Ashley Pate of Starkville, MS, Coleen Pate of Milton, and Brittani Pate and Brandon Harper-Wilson of Milton; and her two great-grandchildren, Mason McDaniel of Jacksonville, and Lucas Harper- Wilson of Milton. She is also survived by her mother, Amy Dupre Veillon of Lafayette, LA; her brother, L.T. Dupre’ and his wife Carolyn of Lafayette, LA; sister, Marilyn Zerangue of Lafayette, LA; brother, Gene Dupre and his wife Lynda of Lafayette, LA; brother, Karl Dupre and his wife Kathy of Nashville TN; sister, Donna Phillips and her husband Don of Moore OK; brother, Phil Dupre and his wife Donna of Arnaudville LA; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 12, 2018, at Lewis Funeral Home in Milton, FL. Funeral services will be held at 9:00 a.m., Thursday, September 13, 2018, at Lewis Funeral Home Milton Chapel. Graveside Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Barrancas National Cemetery. The family would like to express our deepest appreciation to the staff on the sixth floor of Sacred Heart Hospital and the staff of Covenant Hospice of Sacred Heart for the love and compassion they provided to our mother and to our family.