Luther A. Ates

Our Lord and Savior called home our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Luther A. Ates, on July 8, 2012. Born August 3, 1944 in Crestview, Florida to Luther and Effie Ates, he grew up in Holt, Florida and attended school in Baker, Florida where he lettered four years in football, basketball, and baseball and graduated valedictorian of Baker High’s 1962 senior class. After graduation, he began his career in banking as a teller at First National Bank of Milton, Florida and was later promoted to a loan officer. In 1969, Luther accepted a job in Crestview, Florida as a loan officer with First National Bank of Crestview . In 1970, he accepted the position as bank president of the DeFuniak Springs First Federal Savings and Loan. During his 27 years as bank president, he managed five branches throughout Walton and Holmes counties and after retirement remained on the board of directors for ten years. The stories are endless from the many people he and First Federal helped start their businesses and their lives when no other lending institutions would. He was a long time member of East Baptist Church and moved his letter to Seagrove Baptist after moving to that area. Luther was an exceptionally talented softball player. He played on Jo’s House of Pizza of Milton, Florida and Buddy’s of Tallahassee, Florida. He was named M.V.P of the 1972 Softball World Tournament held in Parma, Ohio. He was an avid hunter and spent hundreds of hours in the woods and fields of Walton County and south Alabama chasing bob-white quail, whitetail deer, and the Eastern wild turkey. Luther was a dedicated community leader. He spent countless hours volunteering his time to his community through Kiwanis and church activities. Additionally, he was active in establishing DeFuniak Springs’ annual Christmas Reflections and seeing it through 11 years of success. Luther always enjoyed sports and spent a great amount of time behind the plate as a DeFuniak Springs’ little league umpire. On Friday nights, for over twenty years, he could be heard through the local radio as the “Voice of the Walton Braves” as he called Friday night football play by play. His biggest legacy, however, is the immeasurable mark he left on his wife, children and his grandchildren. Known to them as Luther, Daddy and Paw Paw, he will forever hold a dear and precious place in each of their hearts. Luther was preceded in death by father, Luther Ates; mother, Effie Ates; .
He is survived by his wife of 46 years Pat Ates. A devoted husband and friend, he and Pat were very active in their church and had just recently begun to enjoy their retirement through traveling and spending time between their daughter’s home in Birmingham, and their son’s home in Eufaula, Alabama. Also survived by his son Scott Ates and his wife Amanda, and his daughter Terri Ates Mathews, and her husband Larry, he devoted his life to setting a good example and providing to them a life full of hope, love and happiness. Luther is also survived by his six grandchildren, Haley Anne Ates, Megan Nicole Mathews, Joel Allen Mathews, Luther (Luke) Allen Ates II, Calan William Ates, and Anna Lian Mathews, who idolized him and loved him with their whole hearts. He was their provider of kisses, hugs, and lots of ice cream. He was the keeper of special moments that he shared individually with each of them. Whether it was a ball field, a hunting stand, a pageant stage, or finding the nearest ice cream parlor, he was and will always be their hero. He is also survived by his brothers, Jim Ates and Louie Ates; his sisters Christine Money; Bonnie Black and husband Carol; sister-in-law, Lana Faulk; niece, Allison Ates; friend and father figure, Ted Childers; and a host of cousins.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Seagrove Baptist Building Fund, 174 Watercolor Way, Suite 103 PMB 288, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459. The family will receive friends Wednesday July 11, 2012 from 6 until 8 P.M. at Jerry Evans in DeFuniak Springs, Florida.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday July 12, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. at Seagrove Baptist Church, 4915 East County Road 30 A, Seagrove, Florida with Reverend Stanley Durham and Reverend Jerry Hood officiating. Graveside Services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Thursday in New Holt Cemetery in Holt, Florida.