November 2, 2023, 93, Goldsboro —

Hugh Alexander “Buck” Tate, Jr., 93, passed away on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center. Buck was born to Hugh Alexander Tate, Sr., and Audrey Farrior in Wilmington, NC on April 28, 1930. 

Buck grew up in and around Rose Hill, NC spending time at his Uncle’s farm as a boy, playing basketball in High School, and working summers before college with his Dad who built highways including parts of I-40 in the mountains. He then proceeded to earn a B.S. in Forestry at North Carolina State College from 1948 to 1952 and attended the ROTC program while there. He entered the service (U.S. Army) on July 7, 1952, as a 2nd Lieutenant. He married Joyce Blue Morton on August 30, 1952. 

His Army service then took him to Germany and France in the Korean conflict on January 27, 1953, where he earned an Army Occupation Medal (Germany) and a National Defense Medal. Daughter Jacqueline Tate was born on May 30, 1953. Ending his service with the Army on March 25, 1954, as a 1st Lieutenant, he started his lifelong career with the North Carolina Forest Service in July 1954. Starting out in Hillsborough, NC, to Elizabeth City, NC where son Hugh Alexander Tate, III was born on January 6, 1958, on to New Bern NC (N.C. Forest Service District 4 often fighting fires) around 1960 and stayed until 1968 where he made a last move to Goldsboro, NC (N.C. Forest Service Claridge Nursery) and became one of the Special Projects Foresters traveling the whole state taking on various tasks for the bosses until he retired around 1992. He often commented he loved every day he worked with the Forest Service.

While working with the Forest Service, he found time to join the North Carolina Army National Guard and spent time on weekends and two weeks in the summer on maneuvers. His service record records time in an artillery unit, an infantry unit, flying helicopters, and ending his career as a Battalion Commander of a Military Police unit out of Washington, NC on April 28, 1990. His rank was Lieutenant Colonel.

More time was spent in another area of service to the Boy Scouts. He helped Troop 11 in Goldsboro as well as Troop 3 with the First Presbyterian Church. The scoutmasters became his lifelong friends. He was helpful in establishing the new Tuscarora Camp at 1433 Scout Rd., Four Oaks, NC. Many a weekend was spent on camping trips with the scouts and helping at the summer camps at Camp Tuscarora. Kerr Lake was a favorite destination for Troop 11 where he could use his boat for skiing and then teach scouts how to cook over an open fire.

A man of quiet faith, he was a loyal member of First Presbyterian Church in New Bern, NC and still to his last days a loyal member of the First Presbyterian Church in Goldsboro, NC. He found many ways to serve the Lord here by being in the leading bodies of the church as a Deacon and the Session in his younger days. Since he loved plants and all things to do with the building, he was seen on many occasions trimming bushes, changing light bulbs, and assisting on any building projects. His group the “Trouble Shooters” met on Tuesdays to see what needed fixing within the buildings. A non-stop worker with the yearly church yard sale picking up things all year for the big fundraiser. And, if another spare minute was available, he stopped in at the clothing closet to see if they needed help. God, Country, Family, and Friends.

A funeral service to honor Hugh’s life will be held on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Goldsboro with Rev. Dr. Noé Juarez officiating. The family will have a time of visitation following the service in the church parlor.  Interment will conclude on Friday, November 10, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Montlawn Memorial Park in Raleigh.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the First Presbyterian Church to the Building and Grounds Fund. Mr. Tate and family were and are avid cat lovers. Any donation to your favorite cat rescue in his name would be appreciated.

Services are entrusted to Seymour Funeral Home and Cremation Service.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.