Virgil Albert Pate III, aged 80, of Amarillo, TX, passed away on February 24, 2025. Born on August 13, 1944, in Brownwood, Texas, he was the only child of Dorothy Dollarhide Pate and Dr. Virgil Albert Pate Jr., MD.
The family moved to Abilene in 1951, where Virgil graduated from Abilene High School in 1962. He then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and became a devoted Texas Longhorns fan.
Education and Early Career
While at Texas, Virgil met Mary Graham Pate. They married in 1968 and had two beloved children, Oliver Graham Pate and Wilson Pate Johnson. Following in his father's footsteps, Virgil graduated from Southwestern Medical School in Dallas in 1970. He completed his internship and residency in Urology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Parkland Hospital.
Service in the Air Force and Establishment in Amarillo
He then served as a Major in the United States Air Force in Shreveport, Louisiana, for two years before settling in Amarillo with his family in 1978.
A Distinguished Medical Career
Virgil practiced Urology until his retirement in 2020 and established the Amarillo Urology Associates practice with partners, Dr. William Anthony and Dr. Richard Kibbey. They grew the practice from three to eight partners over the years and built a Surgical Center to serve the Amarillo community. For Virgil, being a surgeon was a calling, not just a job.
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He understood that healthcare is fundamentally about people and that everyone deserved his time, energy, intelligence, and self. His work created a legacy of compassion, respect, and dignity, and he was greatly loved by patients as well as medical and hospital staff.
Family Life and Interests
Above all, Virgil always made sure his children and grandchildren felt supported and loved. He enjoyed coaching youth baseball and basketball and was often found in the stands cheering for his children, ultimately finding a great affinity for Women’s Tennis and supporting his daughter, Wilson, as she excelled in the sport. He was an amazing letter writer and sent loving words of encouragement to his family throughout his life.
In 2004, Virgil married Debra Pate, and they enjoyed many happy years together both in Amarillo and traveling with friends to Taos, New Mexico, and Gunstream Lake in East Texas. As a result of his marriage, more children and grandchildren entered his life, and he was a guiding influence for Kara, Trent, Chad, and Pate.
Virgil enjoyed nothing more than college football Saturdays at home, watching games and grilling outside with his family and beloved dogs. Virgil was an avid bass fisherman and enjoyed many happy times on the lake at the Gunstream fishing club. He loved sharing his passion for fishing and the outdoors with others and often served as a personal fishing guide for his family and friends. His final resting place will be at the lake.
Survivors
Survivors include Debra Pate of Amarillo, TX; Oliver Graham Pate and his wife, Paige, and their daughter Avery Loving Pate of Fort Worth, TX; Wilson Pate Johnson and her husband, Robert, and their daughters Alex Elizabeth Johnson and Phoebe Margaret Johnson of Dallas, TX; Kara Walker Kennedy and her husband, Dr. Chad Kennedy, and their daughter Pate Addison Kennedy of Amarillo, TX; and Trent R. Walker of Amarillo, TX.
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Gratitude and Memorials
The family would like to express gratitude to Sycamore Assisted Memory Care and Baptist St. Anthony Hospice Southwest. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Faith City Mission, Heal the City or the charity of your choice.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the coming weeks.
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