Charles E. Wingate

Charles E. Wingate, age 85, of West, passed away Friday evening, March 22, 2013 at Hillcrest Hospital in Waco. Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church in West with Dr. John Crowder and Rev. Joe Bob Boyd officiating. Military Graveside Rites will follow at Yates Cemetery near Whitney, conducted by West Veterans Honor Guard. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Mr. Wingate was born March 27, 1927 in Merryville, Louisiana, the son of Gilbert and Elma Carmen (Vanesdale) Wingate. He attended schools in Highland and Baytown. Charles served his country with the United States Army Air Corp during World War II and participated in the occupation of Germany. On November 7, 1945 he was united in marriage to Eula Faye Schulz in Crosby. Charles worked for the Houston Natural Gas Companies, over 32 years before retiring in 1983. He also was a master auto mechanic, welder, and body/fender expert. Charles was a member of the First Baptist Church of West and the Channelview Masonic Lodge #485 and the West Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #4819. Charles is preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Joe Henry Wingate. Survivors include his beloved wife of 67 years, Faye Wingate of West; two sons, Larry Wingate and wife Krissy of Abbott and David Wingate and wife Kelle of Valley Center, Kansas; a daughter, Jeannie Kay Ford and husband Dwight of Houston; two brothers, Sam Wingate and wife Shirley and Ed Wingate and wife Hazel; grandchildren, Amanda Erebia and husband Louis, Victoria Costantino, Dwight "Mac" Ford Jr. and wife Tracey, Brandon Wingate and wife Elke, Joel Wingate, Adam Wingate and Shawn Jacquez; 10 great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Pallbearers are Brandon Wingate, Dwight "Mac" Ford, Jr., Adam Wingate, Joel Wingate, Louis Erebia, and Caleb Ford. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of West, the Gideons, or Scott & White Hospice of Waco.