1917
Vergine
2010
Vergine Gates
November 18, 1917 — August 3, 2010
Vergine Gates, 92, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, passed away on Tuesday, August 3, 2010, in the Hempfield Manor Nursing Home. She was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on November 18, 1917, the daughter of Edgar and Gladys (Coffey) Russell.
Mrs. Gates was a graduate of Casper High School, in Wyoming, and attended the Lamont School of Music, in Denver, Colorado, and Occidental College, in Los Angeles, California. She was an accomplished pianist, performing in numerous sites in Texas and New Mexico. Mrs. Gates taught piano for over 50 years to many students, some of whom were recognized nationally for their music. She was also a church organist in churches large and small, in San Antonio, Texas, holding that position at the First Presbyterian Church in Artesia, New Mexico, for more than 40 years, until her retirement.
Mrs. Gates was a member of the New Mexico Music Teachers' Association and served as its State President - she was its Teacher of the Year in 1973. She was a council member of the Southwest Division of the National Music Teachers' Association. She was a well-respected Adjudicator for music festivals, competitions and auditions all over New Mexico and Texas. Mrs. Gates was the Moderator of the Sierra Blanca Presbytery and Council, a member of the PCUSA National Hunger Committee, chair of the Border Health Advocacy for Sierra Blanca Presbytery, and a delegate to the Synod of the Southwest. She was the president and organizer of the Artesia Meals on Wheels for 25 years, the Artesia Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, the AARP Volunteer of the Year and a lifelong and devoted member of PEO.
Mrs. Gates is survived by her two sons, Russ Gates and his wife, Lenore, of Perkiomenville, PA, and Bill Gates and his wife, Sue, of Greensburg, PA; four grandchildren, Adam Gates and his wife, Leslie, of Perkiomenville, PA, David Gates and his fiancAC.e, Filomena Martinelli, of Brooklyn, NY, Alison Layman and her husband, Mike, of Lexington, KY, and Christopher Gates and his fiancAC.e, Brittany Rowe, of Cleveland, TN; and one great granddaughter, Emily Gates, of Perkiomenville, PA.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Gates was predeceased by her husband, Wallace, and their daughter, Linda.
The memorial service for Mrs. Gates will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Artesia, on Saturday, August 28, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. Interment of ashes will precede the service, in Woodbine Cemetery.
Terence L. Graft, funeral director is entrusted with arrangements. For information and condolences, visit our website at www.kepple-graft.com.
Mrs. Gates was a graduate of Casper High School, in Wyoming, and attended the Lamont School of Music, in Denver, Colorado, and Occidental College, in Los Angeles, California. She was an accomplished pianist, performing in numerous sites in Texas and New Mexico. Mrs. Gates taught piano for over 50 years to many students, some of whom were recognized nationally for their music. She was also a church organist in churches large and small, in San Antonio, Texas, holding that position at the First Presbyterian Church in Artesia, New Mexico, for more than 40 years, until her retirement.
Mrs. Gates was a member of the New Mexico Music Teachers' Association and served as its State President - she was its Teacher of the Year in 1973. She was a council member of the Southwest Division of the National Music Teachers' Association. She was a well-respected Adjudicator for music festivals, competitions and auditions all over New Mexico and Texas. Mrs. Gates was the Moderator of the Sierra Blanca Presbytery and Council, a member of the PCUSA National Hunger Committee, chair of the Border Health Advocacy for Sierra Blanca Presbytery, and a delegate to the Synod of the Southwest. She was the president and organizer of the Artesia Meals on Wheels for 25 years, the Artesia Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, the AARP Volunteer of the Year and a lifelong and devoted member of PEO.
Mrs. Gates is survived by her two sons, Russ Gates and his wife, Lenore, of Perkiomenville, PA, and Bill Gates and his wife, Sue, of Greensburg, PA; four grandchildren, Adam Gates and his wife, Leslie, of Perkiomenville, PA, David Gates and his fiancAC.e, Filomena Martinelli, of Brooklyn, NY, Alison Layman and her husband, Mike, of Lexington, KY, and Christopher Gates and his fiancAC.e, Brittany Rowe, of Cleveland, TN; and one great granddaughter, Emily Gates, of Perkiomenville, PA.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Gates was predeceased by her husband, Wallace, and their daughter, Linda.
The memorial service for Mrs. Gates will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Artesia, on Saturday, August 28, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. Interment of ashes will precede the service, in Woodbine Cemetery.
Terence L. Graft, funeral director is entrusted with arrangements. For information and condolences, visit our website at www.kepple-graft.com.
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