Allen Carpenter Pate, USAF (Ret.)

Major General Allen Carpenter Pate, USAF (Ret.), 79, of Edisto Island, South Carolina, husband of Glenda Creel Pate entered into eternal rest Wednesday, May 17, 2017. The family will receive friends Wednesday, May 24, 2017 in J. HENRY STUHR INC., WEST ASHLEY CHAPEL, 3360 Glenn McConnell Parkway from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. His Funeral Service will be held Thursday, May 25, 2017 in The Presbyterian Church on Edisto Island, 2164 Hwy 174 at 11:00 a.m. Interment with Full Military Honors will follow in Presbyterian Churchyard on Edisto Island.

The general was born on May 15, 1938, in Charleston, S.C. He graduated from McClenaghan High School in Florence, S.C., in 1956. In 1962, he earned his bachelor of science degree in management and administration. He earned his juris doctor degree from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1970. His military education includes Squadron Officer School, 1972; and Air Command and Staff College, 1982.

General Pate began his military career in June 1962, when he received a regular commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force, after graduating from ROTC as a distinguished military graduate. He attended undergraduate pilot training at Craig Air Force Base, Selma, Ala., graduating in August 1963, and completed advanced pilot training at Castle AFB, CA., in January 1964. He was then assigned as a KC-135 pilot with the 904th Air Refueling Squadron, Mather AFB, CA. In February 1965, while stationed at Mather AFB, he deployed to Kadina AFB, Okinawa, and other locations in the Southeast Asia area. During this one year tour, he flew 110 combat missions, with over 610 combat hours.

Released from active duty in August 1967, General Pate enrolled in law school at the University of South Carolina. In October 1967, he joined the South Carolina ANG assigned to the 157th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, flying F-102 aircraft. He continued to fly until February 1976.

General Pate was commissioned as a major in the judge advocate general's Corp in February 1976, and has held positions as staff judge advocate, group and headquarters, South Carolina ANG; liaison to 9th Air Force judge advocate; and ANG assistant to the Tactical Air Command judge advocate, November 1985. In 1989, General Pate was selected as the Outstanding Reserve Judge Advocate of the Year. The general was appointed to the position of ANG assistant to the judge advocate general, United States Air Force, on Jan. 1, 1990. He was promoted to brigadier general on March 9, 1990.

General Pate was employed as a sole practitioner, specializing in family law in Florence, S.C. He is licensed to practice in all courts in the state of South Carolina, including the court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, United States District Court, 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, United States Supreme Court and the United States Court of Military Appeals.

General Pate's civic affiliations include being an active member of the Florence County Bar Association, South Carolina State Bar Association, South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, American Bar Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, National Guard Association of South Carolina and National Guard Association of the United States.

General Pate was promoted to major general on April 8, 1992 with same date of rank. He retired from the ANG in 1994 and from his Law practice in 2003. He and his wife Glenda retired to Edisto Island, where he was a member of the Presbyterian Church on Edisto Island and the Edisto Island Yacht Club.

He is survived by his wife, Glenda Pate of Edisto Island, SC; daughter, Leslie Pate Wood; granddaughter, Jamie Nettles Werling (Matthew); three brothers, Lewis Calvin Pate (Barbara) of Conway, SC, James Robert Pate (Carole) of Georgetown, SC, David Blakeney Pate (Cathy) of Florence, SC.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Presbyterian Church on Edisto Island, 2164 Hwy 174, Edisto Island, SC 29438 or Disabled American Veterans (DAV), 109 Bee St, Charleston, SC 29401.