GATES, Daniel Wearing "Bud" (Age 87) - Daniel W. Gates, passed away suddenly on January 12, 2006. Born in Rockwood, PA, Bud's family moved to Spokane, WA when he was five years old. A North Central graduate, Bud attended Gonzaga University before enlisting in the Army Air Corps during WWII. Second Lieutenant Gates, a B-17 pilot, was shot down over Germany where he spent nine months as a POW in Stalag Luft One. When he returned to Spokane after liberation, he met and married Margaret "Peggy" Meenach, his beloved wife of 58 years. Bud and Peggy raised their family of six children in Spokane. He was a devoted husband and loving father. Bud was a member of the Downriver Men's Golf League, Elks Club, Whitworth Presbyterian Church, and the 306th Bomb Group Association. He was preceded in death by his only sister, Audrey Gates Little. He is survived by his wife, Peggy; his children, Nancy Martin, Danna Beal (Bellevue, WA), Dan Gates, Jr., Cindy McMahon, Deb (and husband Ralph) Prouty, Tammy (and husband Kevin) Von Steuben; eleven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. A Memorial Service will be held on January 17, 2006, at 2:00 p.m. at the Heritage Funeral Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ronald McDonald House of Spokane. Jan 16, 2006 Spokesman-Review