Chester Gates Sr.
May 11, 1916-Feb. 10, 2006
East Palo Alto, California

Chester Gates Sr., 89, a longtime resident of East Palo Alto, died Feb. 10, 2006, in Redwood City.

He was born May 11, 1916, in Los Angeles.

In 1934 he married and went on to father 13 children. In 1957 he moved to East Palo Alto and worked for the Ravenswood City School District for more than 20 years.

He earned the nickname "Poppa Gates" from the children who attended Brentwood Elementary School. When he retired, some of his students continued to visit him.

He is survived by five sons, Fred Gates of Lathrop, Calif., Earl and Robert Gates of East Palo Alto, and James and Thomas Gates of Madera, Calif.; four daughters, Rosie Williams and Hazel Perry of East Palo Alto, Mary Anne Gates of Stockton, Calif., and Helen Gates of San Jose, Calif.; one adopted son, Gerald Whatley of Stockton, Calif.; two son-in-laws and two daughter-in-laws; and more than 200 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Tags: teacher/educator