Rupert Pate was a professional American football player who played offensive lineman for three seasons for the Chicago Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles. He is survived by Florence "Skip" Pate, his wife of 71 years. He is also survived by his daughter, Shyrlynn Pate, of Burlington; two sons, Rupert "Pete" Pate Jr. and his wife, Jane, of Burlington, and Carlyle Pate of Boone; a brother, Fletcher Earl Pate of Raleigh; five grandchildren, Shawn Meeks, Kimberly Meeks, Travis Pate, Christopher Pate and Joshua Pate; six great-grandchildren, Leo Pate, Eli Pate, Connor Pate, Macy Pate, Kierstyn Rowe and Levi Meeks and one great-great-grandchild, Zachery Meeks. Rupert attended Wake Forest College where he excelled in football; he was chosen captain of the team in 1939, made All-State and All-Southern Conference and played in the 1939 Blue-Gray Football Bowl. He joined the professional Chicago Cardinals team in 1940 and played with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1941-1942. Until his death, he was one of the oldest surviving professional football players. Rupert was elected to Goldsboro High School's Hall of Fame in 1989. He served in World War II from 1943 to 1945, ear 

September 6th, 1917 in   /  Died:   May 20th, 2014