Jessie E. Pate

Jessie Edward Pate of Fanwood, New Jersey, made his transition on Wednesday, November 14, 2012. Born in Sharon, Tennessee, he moved to New Jersey in 1950, where he met his future wife, Margie Grippo of Kenilworth. They were married in 1953 and would have celebrated their 60th anniversary on Valentine's Day, 2013. Jessie, a Korean War Veteran, enjoyed fishing and loved building and flying airplanes - both passenger and radio-controlled. He also enjoyed helping others, and was a Captain on the Fanwood Special Police Force for many years. He leaves behind to mourn, his loving wife, Margie, two children and their spouses, Diana Lynn Todisco (Frank) and Jeffrey Pate (Wendy), as well as four grandchildren, Dawn Marie Ponzio, Michael Pate, Christopher Pate, and Tyler Todisco, and five great-grandchildren. Visitation will be on Friday, November 16, 2012 at Gray Funeral Home, 12 Springfield Avenue, Cranford, NJ from 2-4 and from 7-9. Go to grayfuneralhomes.com for on line condolences. A funeral service will be held at Gray Funeral Home on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at 10 a.m. Interment will be at Graceland Memorial Park, Kenilworth, NJ. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Jessie's name to the Fanwood Rescue Squad, Fanwood, NJ.