Dorothy Duval Moore Gates

Dorothy DuVal Moore Gates, 94, formerly of Kannapolis, NC, died January 25, 2012 surrounded with love and affection from her family. She had lived the past five years with her son Charles and his wife Marion in Raleigh, NC. She was born September 11, 1917, the daughter of Charles Milton Moore and Edna Ray Shuford Moore of Gastonia, NC. She was the granddaughter of James Daniel Moore and Martha Jane Lewis Moore of Caldwell and Gaston County, NC and of Thomas Edward Shuford of Cleveland and Gaston County, NC and Nancy Jane Fite Shuford of Belmont, NC. She completed public schools in Gastonia, and attended Women's College (UNCG) from 1934 to 1935, taking a Business curriculum and subsequently was employed as Private Secretary to the Vice President and General Manager, Firestone Textiles, Inc., in Gastonia, working in that position from 1935 to 1946. Dot met William F. Gates, Jr. of Anderson, SC at a Bachelor's Club dance at the Gaston Country Club in Gastonia in 1940. They were married on April 4, 1942 in Belmont Abbey Cathedral, Belmont, NC. Prior to her marriage, Dot was a member of the Spinster's Club. In addition she served as the President of the Gastonia Pilot Club (1945-46), and belonged to several book clubs and bridge clubs over the years. She did occasional volunteer work with the Red Cross. Between 1949 and 1977 she lived in Argentina, the Republic of the Philippines and Mexico for 20 years cumulatively, accompanying her husband in his international textile career. She was presented with an honorary membership in the Cum Laude Society in 1967 for operating the Used Book Mart at the American School in Makati, Rizal, in the Philippines. She was a Southern lady with an eye for beauty visible in her homes, flower arrangements and beautiful penmanship in her handwritten correspondence. She honored her guests and devoted herself lovingly to her family. She was a member of Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church in Kannapolis, NC. Mrs. Gates is survived by her four sons, William F. Gates III, of Albany, GA. and wife, Roberta Pecoraro Gates; Charles Moore Gates of Raleigh, NC and wife, Marion Poindexter Gates; Joseph Shuford Gates of Raleigh, NC and wife, Ellen Harvey Gates; and Thomas Lewis Gates of Valle Crucis, NC and wife Marian Herbert Gates; four grandchildren, William F. Gates IV of Chattanooga, TN, Anna L. Gates of Boone, NC, Benjamin P. Gates of Dallas, TX, and Daniel M. Gates of Raleigh, NC; two great grandchildren, William F. Gates, V and Mary Louise Gates of Chattanooga, TN. Mrs. Gates had been awaiting the February birth of triplet great-grandchildren in Dallas, TX. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Gates was predeceased by her sister, Mrs. John H. (Nancy Moore) Rutledge, Jr., in 1990, and her husband, William F. Gates, Jr. in 1992. Visitation with the family will precede a memorial service at Lady's Funeral Home Chapel, 268 North Cannon Boulevard, Kannapolis, NC on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 1 pm with the service to follow at 2pm. Interment will be private in Oakwood Cemetery, Concord, NC. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607 or a charity of your choice.