Peggy Jean Bate

December 9, 1942 - August 5, 2020

Peggy Jean (Booth) Bate, age 77, passed away peacefully August 5, 2020 following her 3 year battle with cancer. She was born December 9, 1942 to Carl and Jayne (Paxson) Booth in Bluffton. She married her high school sweetheart, Robert Bate, August 6, 1961 at the First Reformed Church in Bluffton. Peggy loved to love on people and was generous, kind and self-sacrificing. Her family will always remember her saying: “Love you – Love you!” She was a faithful wife, dedicated mother, devoted friend, and a passionate follower of Christ. Peggy was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Bluffton and recently attended First Reformed Church. For many years Peggy worked alongside her husband at Bob Bate Chevrolet in Ossian. She followed many passions of serving others by volunteering for the Republican Party, the Bluffton Regional Medical Center, the Bargain Hut, and was a Board member of the Bluffton Historical Society. She loved to send notes and visit shut ins to brighten their day and pray with them. Peggy is survived by her husband, Robert (Bob); her children, Tony Bate, Tammy Bate, Todd Bate, and Terry (Tammy) Bate; her siblings, David (Vicki) Booth, Don (Cathy) Booth, Pam (Bob) Tuttle, and Dick (Elaine) Booth; her brothers-in-law, Richard (Janice) Bate, Steve (Trieu) Bate and sister-in-law, Debra Bate-Yohman; grandchildren, Camerin (Collin), Caylee (Ethan), Corbin, and Sutton; 4 great grandchildren, Tinsley, Dawson, Adalynn, and Declan; plus her nieces and nephews which she loved and touched deeply. She was preceded in death by her parents, her dearly loved in-laws, Shay and Alice Bate, and a grandson, Chase Walburn. Public visitation will be held from 1 P.M. to 3 P.M, on Sunday (August 9, 2020) at the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home. All are welcome to join the family at a public graveside service being held at 4 P.M. on Sunday at Six Mile Cemetery with Rev. Bryson “Gene” Bell and Rev. Terry Bate officiating. This will allow us to celebrate Peggy’s life together – bring seating if desired. Memorials may be made to the Friends Who Care Cancer Relief Foundation of Bluffton or Visiting Nurse of Ft. Wayne. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Friends can send online condolences to the family at www.thomarich.com.