Donnie Evans Wingate

Chester, SC: Donald E. Wingate (Donnie), 72, of Chester, South Carolina passed away Monday, November 25, 2019at MUSC Chester Regional Medical Center surrounded by his family and friends. A funeral service will be held 2:00 PM Friday, November 29, 2019 at Orr’s Baptist Church with Reverend Daniel Wightman and Reverend Ryan Willis officiating. The family will receive friends also Friday from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM in the sanctuary of the church. Interment will be held in Chester Memorial Gardens. Born on May 21, 1947, Donnie was a son of the late William Grover and Ruby Gertrude (Mitchell) Wingate. He was a graduate of Rock Hill High School and a veteran of the U.S. Army having served during the Vietnam War as a cook. Donnie was an Insurance Agent for over fifty years. During that time he earned two Insurance degrees, CLU and LUTCF. He was a captive agent for thirty-nine years and for the last ten years Donnie and Dale successfully built a full service agency, Wingate Insurance Agency. He was involved in the Life Underwriters association for over fifty years. He was President of the State of South Carolina Association in 2005. Donnie earned many awards and achievements throughout his Insurance career including the Statesman Award and the Carrol H. Jones Award. Donnie was part of the church family at Orr’s Baptist Church where he was a Deacon and a choir member. He loved his church and his church family. He also loved ALL sports and his favorite teams were the Clemson Tigers and the New York Yankees. He enjoyed sharing his love of sports with his children, grandchildren, brothers, nephews and friends. He spent his free time watching various sporting events live and on television. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his two children Donald Jeffrey Wingate and Lisa Renee Wingate. Donnie is survived by his beloved wife of twenty-one years, Dale (Melton) Wingate; one son, Donald Jason Wingate(Krista); one daughter, Tammy Wingate-Redd (Jim); two step-sons, Donnie Jacobs(Leslie) and Kevin Jacobs(Kirstin); two brothers, Billy Wingate(Lib) and Alex Wingate(Peggy); 11grandchildren, A.J.,Courtney(Andrew), Ryan(Kara), Tyler, Savannah, Mickayla, Annie, Paisley, Hunter(Savannah), Kyle and Dillion(Katie); two great-grandchildren, Pressley and Harper and two great-grandchildren on the way along with many loving nieces, nephews, extended family, incredible friends and church family. Donnie was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, and friend to everyone and also he loved his " fur kid" (cat) Princess. Memorials may be made to Orr’s Baptist Church 1266 Lancaster Highway, Chester, SC 29706 Online condolences may be made to the family at www.barronfuneralhome.com.