Bascum Wingate, 88, of Nacogdoches, passed away on January 30, 2017 in Nacogdoches. He was born on March 4, 1928 in San Augustine, Texas, the son of Bascum Whitaker Wingate, Sr. and Evie Irene Tinsley Wingate. Services for Mr. Wingate will be held Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at 10:00AM in the chapel of Laird Funeral Home with Bro. Paul Sevar officiating. Interment will follow at Swift Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00PM â€" 7:00PM at Laird Funeral Home. Mr. Wingate was raised in San Augustine and attended school there. When he was 17 years old, he joined the Navy where he spent the next 3 years in Pensacola, Florida working as an aircraft mechanic. In 1951, he returned home. One Saturday night, he met a very stunning young lady, Billie Pace, who stole his heart. He and Mrs. Billie were married the following Saturday. Soon after marrying, they moved to Texas City where they made their home and raised their 4 daughters. In 1965, they decided to pack up their family and move back to their roots in East Texas. He went to work for Al Dodge, where he spent over 20 years as a mechanic until his retirement. Bascum and Billie, during their wonderful 66 years of marriage, took great pride in teaching their children and grandchildren many life lessons. The teaching included doing things "right the first time" and always being the best at whatever you did. Instilling in their family the integrity and honesty of hard working people, they have been greatly rewarded by the accomplishments that the kids and grandkids have made. Watching all 4 grandsons graduate from college was especially important to them. Mr. Wingate is survived by his loving wife, Billie Wingate; Daughters, Jean Dubois and husband, Alvin of Nacogdoches, Carol Collins of Nacogdoches, Peggy Kolb of Nacogdoches and Wendy Munnerlyn and husband, Mike of Little Rock, Arkansas; Grandchildren, Laura Collins, Heather Motchman, Kevin Kolb, Keith Kolb, Kris Kolb, Doug Dubois and Michael Munnerlyn; and 10 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents and one great granddaughter, Ashley Dubois. Pallbearers will be Kevin Kolb, Keith Kolb, Kris Kolb, Brent Kolb, Gerry Brown and Michael Munnerlyn. Honorary Pallbearers will be The Golden Agers of Calvary Baptist Church, Miles Wingate, Johnny Wingate, Bud Tinsley and Bob Tinsley. The family would like to thank the staff of Oak Manor Nursing Home as well as the staff of Legacy Hospice for the wonderful care they provided. The Wingate family is being served by Laird Funeral Home. To convey condolences or sign and online register, please visit www.lairdfh.net