Thomas A. "Tom" Cates Jr.

Tom was born in Watts, OK October 27, 1914 to Thomas Alexander Cates, Sr and Emma Caroline Holt. His family moved to San Antonio in 1919. The roads were mostly dirt and in the larger towns might have had some gravel. It was a 3 or 4 day trip.

He graduated from Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio in 1931. After graduation he took odd jobs during the depression until he landed a position with Southwestern Bell Telephone Co (later AT&T) in 1933. His first job was to get farmers and ranchers in the Hondo and Uvalde areas to sign up for telephone service. Service was brand new in the area and the subscribers shared a portion of the expense of new poles and wires for party line service.

He met the love of his life, Rubie Christine Pape, in 1936 and they were married in 1940. Their only child, Ralph Holt Cates, was born in 1946.

In early 1943 he joined the Army-Air Corp and was stationed stateside for the duration of the war until his medical discharge in 1945. During his service he taught new pilots instrument flying skills.

After the war he returned to SW Bell and also obtained his private pilot’s license and joined a flight club in San Antonio. The group shared expenses of their three airplanes. He flew until 1956 when the club disbanded.

He retired from SW Bell in 1972 and liked to joke that he was drawing retirement longer than he was employed. SWB lost money on that deal. He and Rubie enjoyed their 67 years together traveling and taking it easy until her passing on December 22, 2007.

In 2014 Tom decided he wanted to out-do Bush #41 by parachuting on his 100th birthday. Since his doctor wouldn’t oblige him with a medical release his hopes were dashed. His son came up with an alternative, a ride in a Racing Glider Sailplane just before his birthday.

A month after his 100th his son took him to an air show in Bryan to see some of the WW2 war birds come in for a landing. While the planes were taxiing to a stop a fellow asked if there were any WW2 veterans in the audience. His son raised Tom’s hand and off they went for a 45 minute ride in a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. What a thrill. He was on the newscasts that night of 2 different stations and pictured on the front page of Bryan Eagle the next day. He was a ROCK STAR at the retirement center.

Tom was proud of his Cherokee heritage. His grandfather was Redbird Sixkiller, who served on the Cherokee nation Supreme Court in the 1890’s. Looking back on what made him most happy in life were his son, grandson and great granddaughter.

He passed quietly on June 27, 2016. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Newton, Leona, Sybil, Edwin, Raymond, Richard Owen, Dolly Oleta and grandson, Lee Dawson Cates. He is survived by his son Ralph and wife June of Calvert,TX, grandson Kevin Andrew Cates and wife Melissa of Sugar Land, TX and great granddaughter Meagen Cates and nieces and nephews.

The family would like thank the wonderful people at Isle at Watercrest Bryan who made his last 2 ½ years enjoyable and also the extra care from Hospice of Brazos Valley during his final days.

Services will be held on Tuesday July 5, 2016 at Sunset Funeral Home 1701 Austin Highway with a visitation from 1PM – 3PM and a Graveside Services at 3PM