Robert E. Tate, age 93 of Centralia formerly of Mountain Home, Arkansas, Odin, Salem, Los Angeles, California, and Chicago, passed away on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at Centralia Manor in Centralia. Robert was born on September 13, 1929 in Odin, Illinois, the son of Clyde and Fern (Eaglin) Tate. Survivors include his nieces and nephews, Ruth Ann Reeder and husband Bob of Irvington, Melinda Shumaker of Carbondale, and John Tate of Collinsville. He is also survived by several great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Clyde Tate. Mr. Tate was a member of the Methodist Church, he loved swimming, golf, and basketball. He was the captain of the team that beat Salem when Salem was ranked #1 in the State of Illinois in 1947. Robert attended Centralia Junior College in 1948 and led the basketball team in total points for the year. Robert served his country in the United State Army during the Korean War, He was sent to Texas to become an x-ray technician, then on to Germany to a hospital for duty. He got to see all of Europe. After being discharged he went back to college, then Ed Leach and backers sent Robert and John Jones to St. George, Utah to prospect for uranium, with no luck. Robert then went to Chicago and got a job in engineering and became the department head, and superintendent of engineering with General Motors Corporation, where he worked for 33 years. Funeral services for Robert E. Tate will be held on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at 11:30 a.m. at Crouse Funeral Home in Salem. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Centralia, with military rites by the Centralia American Legion and VFW. There will be a visitation from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association and will be received at the funeral home.