Retired missionary, educator, and minister Charles “Chuck” Gates passed away 12 September at the age of 90.

Charles was born on 8 August 1929 in Canton, Ohio. He graduated from Newcomerstown High School in 1947 and married Roma Joanne Gates in 1950.

He continued his education at Olivet Nazarene University, graduating in 1952. He received a Master of Divinity from Nazarene Theological Seminary in 1955, a Master of Education from the University of Southern California in 1965, and a Doctor of Missions from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1986.

After seminary, Gates pastored churches in Lawson, Missouri, and Avon Lake, Ohio. In 1958 he became the second Nazarene missionary to Brazil, where he and Roma would serve for 24 years. They helped establish the first Church of the Nazarene in Belo Horizonte and pastored multiple churches in Brazil, including Campinas, Sao Paulo, and Brasilia, and helped build several church buildings. His work to establish the Nazarene Theological Seminary in Brazil led to him becoming the second dean at the college.

In 1982, he was asked to serve as pastor to missionaries in the World Mission Department. In that position, he ministered to Nazarene missionaries and their families, including their children attending colleges in the U.S.

He became director of Casa Robles Missionary Retirement Center in 1992 and served there until his retirement in 2000. While at Casa Robles, he built the community center and recreational building and swimming pool.

During his retirement, he was active at Pasadena First Church of the Nazarene and preached twice a month at the Monrovia Health Care Center. Affectionately known as Uncle Chuck, he was a father figure to many.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Roma, who passed away in November. He is survived by his son, Greg, his daughter-in-law, Ammie, and their sons Alex, Mason, and Andrew, and great-granddaughter, Ava.  

A funeral service will be held 20 September at Pasadena First Church of the Nazarene. 

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be sent to the Roma J. Gates Scholarship for Missions Endowment at Nazarene Theological Seminary.