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Russell Jeffrey Gates, 66, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, after a short struggle with several health issues. Funeral: 10 a.m. Saturday at Thompson's Harveson and Cole Funeral Home. Interment: Noon in Laurel Land Memorial Park. Rusty was born on June 3, 1950, in Fort Worth to Walter and Bettye Berger-Gates. He graduated from Paschal High School in 1968 and attended his father's alma mater, Texas A&M, in College Station, as a math major. From there he transferred to Texas Tech. After college he had several jobs. During this time his daughter, Angela, was born. He settled in White Settlement, working as a liquor store manager for 15 years. He met his wife, Marlene Spangle in 1990 and married her in 1992. He left the liquor business and finished his working career at Payless Cashways. Rusty loved playing golf, bowling, playing poker and watching college football. But most of all he enjoyed being with his family and friends, making everyone laugh at his observations of life. He is preceded in death by both sets of grandparents; his mother; and all of his aunts and uncles. Survivors: Wife of 24 years, Marlene; daughter, Angela De Los Santos and husband, Lance; grandchildren, Lexy Todd and Cade De Los Santos; father, Walter J. Gates Jr. and wife, Carla; sister, Sharon Richards and husband, Billy and son Dusty Kemp; and numerous cousins from the Berger clan.
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Randy McFarland
One of the wittiest guys I've ever known. We weren't close friends but when we had classes together I sat close to Rusty because he was always saying something funny. We had lots of great laughs.
Dennis Baum
Rusty was a great guy. Friendly and open personality. I think we attended elementary school together at South Hills. Very sad. Sorry he's gone.
Michael Hofstein
Rusty and I shared a locker through most of Jr High. He always had funny, witty comments whenever we met up at the locker. His great humor matched his great nickname! I hope he had a full life of happiness and family. May he Rest in Peace.
Richard White
When we were in elementary school (South Hills), Rusty lived on the street behind us and two houses north. We played baseball together and were in the same Cub Scout den. Lost touch with him after that, but lots of memories.
David Pickett
Rusty and I met playing golf in the summer of 1965. I had just taken up the game and within 3 months Rusty had me qualifying for the Paschal golf team and with his help I made it. We were never very far apart all the way through college after that. We golfed together, played cards in study hall, met up again at Texas Tech and roomed together for two years there. During summers we worked at Ridglea Country Club on the maintenance crew and thought we'd died and gone to heaven cause we got to play free golf there! After graduation we worked at "the Speakeasy" on Camp Bowie for awhile where he met his first wife and had his daughter Angela. We lost track of each other after that for about 20 years when I went around the world in the USAF, and later flying at Southwest Airlines. We reconnected briefly after that, but I didnt see him much because I live in Utah and came home infrequently to Texas.
Rusty was one of the most buoyant people I ever knew in my life. If you were having a bad day...ten minutes with Rusty would do the trick. He was a remarkable person and an unforgetable friend. I said goodbye at his funeral Saturday.....now travel well my friend...and may God receive you with the joy and love you brought to so many others. Love ya pal.
David Pickett
My condolences go out to Rusty's sweetheart wife of 24 years, Marlene, and to his daughter Angela and her sweet kids and husband. Rusty was a great father, husband, and family man. He always looked to his daughter's and family's needs before his own. When it comes right down to it.....that's what it means to be a real man isn't it? Godspeed Rusty, I'll see ya among the stars......