Frank E. Kates, Jr.

Frank Elisha Kates, Jr , 87, of Fort Collins died on March 19th at the Kansas State Soldiers Home in Fort Dodge Kansas.

He was born on July 6th, 1920 to Frank Elisha Kates, Sr. and Harriet Ruth O'Neil, in Victor, Colorado. Mr. Kates shared many fond memories about his boyhood years fishing with his grandfather, hiking in the mountains, and sledding down the entire main street with friends.

His father was killed in a gold mining accident and his mother later married Dr. Rudolph Windscheffel. They resettled in Smith Center, Kansas where he lived through the depression.

In May of 1939 he joined the 2nd Cavalry in Fort Riley, Kansas. He loved the horses and the pack trips the company took. When they dissolved the Cavalry he transferred to the 2nd Air Division and was assigned to the 8th Air Force at Lowry Field in Denver. From there he attended Weather School at Ellington Field in Houston. He then went to Mt. Katahdin, Maine for artic training, and was stationed in Gander Lake, Newfoundland, then was sent to Greenland where they hiked the Ice Cap and set up a weather camp. In 1943 he transferred to gunnery school at Tyndall AFB in Panama City, Florida. From here he went to Hempstead, NY where he and 10,000 other soldiers caught the Queen Elizabeth to Scotland, and then to Harwick Airfield where more training was received and he was assigned to a B24, as a nose gunner. During the course of the war he flew 35 missions, two of those in one day prior to the invasion of Normandy. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart.

After being discharged in 1945, he attended Business College at the University of Denver, and worked at Gates Rubber Company, in the advertising department. He loved to write and went on to become an editor in the department. In 1947 he met Pearl June Kates, and they were married on May 31st, 1948, in Denver. Mr. Kates retired from Gates in 1982. He was an active member of the Toastmaster Organization.

Never losing his love of the mountains, in his spare time he would hike whenever possible. He spent many hours hiking portions of the Colorado Trail. Mr. Kates enjoyed animals, particularly dogs and horses, and owned and was loved by many in his life.

Most of his life was devoted to his family. He was actively involved in raising two daughters as well as taking an active roll in the lives of his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife Pearl of Fort Collins, daughter Randi Kates Robinson and son- in-law Howard Robinson of Fort Collins, daughter Robin Carpenter of Denver, grandchildren Madeline, Mark and Melissa Robinson of Fort Collins, Corinne Carpenter of Fort Collins, Rachael Carpenter of Chapel Hill, NC, brother G. W. Windscheffel and sister-in-law Beverly Windscheffel of Grand Junction.
Mr. Kates was cared for at the Kansas Soldiers Home during the last days of his life where he was remembered for his sense of humor and cordiality. He was attended there daily by wife Pearl and regularly by brother-in-law James and sister-in-law Edna Gilman of Dodge City Kansas. Mr. Kates was a member of St. Cornelius Episcopal Church in Dodge City.

Memorials can be made to the Kansas State Soldiers home, Fort Dodge Kansas.