Derrell Leland Pate

Derrell L. Pate, age 75 of Columbus, Georgia passed into eternal life on January 11, 2016 after a long battle with lung cancer. He was born on November 19, 1940 in Boaz, Alabama to parents Denson and Edna Pate. Derrell grew up in Gadsden, Alabama until age 12 when his family moved to Chillicothe, Ohio. After graduating from Chillicothe High School in 1958, he served our country in the U.S. Army for six years. On May 29, 1963 he married his sweetheart Marilyn Putnam after meeting her on a New Year's Eve blind date. Their whirlwind romance lasted for over 52 years of marriage.



Derrell graduated from The Ohio State University in 1966 picking up his diploma with his infant daughter Jody sitting proudly on his shoulders. Soon after graduation, he started a long and successful career with the Mead Corporation. His career in Human Resources would take him and his young family to many places including Cincinnati, Dayton, Atlanta and Columbus, Georgia. He enjoyed traveling globally with Mead to many places including Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Japan and his favorite, Vienna, Austria. He retired from Mead in 2002 with over 36 years of service.



During his retirement, Derrell was an avid golfer and member of the Green Island Country Club. He loved fishing and taking his boat on fishing adventures to Canada and Florida with his fishing buddies, Erm Venuto and Don Burke. His final adventure before his illness was to a ranch in Wickenburg, Arizona where he enjoyed the dry climate of the Sonoran desert and touring the beautiful ranch.



Derrell is survived by his wife, Marilyn and daughter, Jody and her husband Rob Danielson and two granddaughters, Amanda and Julia Danielson of Tolland, Connecticut. His brother Dale Pate of Chillicothe, brothers and sisters-in-law, Mike and Patty Putnam of Clarksburg and Phil and Betty Putnam of Frankfort, nieces and nephews Beth Griffin, Kathy Bolling, Amy Putnam, Amanda Putnam, Michael Lee Putnam, Alissa Putnam, Josh Pate, Jeremiah Pate, Jenny Pate, Brian Putnam and Eric Putnam.



He is pre-deceased by his brother, Denny Pate and parents, Denson and Edna Pate, his special niece, Missy Pate, and his beloved Doberman, Sophie.



A special thank you to his cousins, Sherry and Greg Glass, John and Joan Dawson, and Cecil Knowles, Jr. and his dear friends, Steve and Vicky Conover.



Calling hours will be on Friday, January 15, 2016 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Ebright Funeral Home, 55 W. Springfield St, Frankfort, Ohio. Funeral service will be on Saturday, January 16, 2016 at 11:00 am at Ebright Funeral Home followed by burial at Greenlawn Cemetary in Frankfort.



Memorial donations are welcome to the American Cancer Society.