Harley Gene Wingate of Berryville, Arkansas was born January 9, 1941, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Roy and Evelyn (Fagan) Wingate. Harley passed away Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Rogers, Arkansas, at the age of 81.
Harley is survived by his children Robert Gene Wingate, Michael Wayne Wingate, Kenneth Charles Wingate, Isaac Thorne Wingate, Sarah Jean Wingate, Zachary Crockett Wingate, Jessica Jean King, Jacob David King, Jason James King, twelve grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Harley is preceded in death by his parents Roy and Evelyn Wingate and brother Roy Edward “Eddie” Wingate.
Known by most as “Gene”, he was a staple in the community waking up the Ozarks on KTHS radio for many years on “Tradio” and local high school sports live broadcasts off and on for 30 years. Previously, Gene launched one of the very first FM radio stations in the country in 1967 in Oklahoma City called KEBC, which stood for “Keep Everybody Country”. Gene continued his passion of entrepreneurship when he founded Wingate Outdoor Advertising in 1986 with his son, Ken Wingate, who later took over the company in 2009. For years people in the area would know they were almost home when they saw signs with the name “Wingate” on them.
Gene loved living in the state of Arkansas. He followed his friend George Deign to the Ozarks in 1975 and fell in the love with the beautiful landscape of the area, first living in Eureka Springs and eventually moving to Berryville.
In his later years, Gene revived one of his biggest passions of farming and growing tomatoes, which he studied during the 1970’s at the University of Arkansas, specializing in the variety known as Arkansas Travelers. Friends and family alike would often receive the gift of a brown paper bag filled with these delicious, red homegrown goodies. To Gene, God’s design was never more present than in the planting of a seed and the abundance that it produced.
Undoubtedly, Gene’s biggest source of pride were his children and their families. He raised nine children altogether and was relentless in working to provide for all their needs while teaching the lessons of hard work and integrity along the way. One of his greatest joys was making Biscuits and Gravy for his family on Sunday mornings.
Harley Gene Wingate will be sorely missed by many, but we take comfort in his faith and belief in Jesus Christ and that right up until the very end, he was living the life he loved on his farm, as a country boy at heart.
Visitation will be from 4:00 to 6:00 pm Sunday June 5, 2022, at the Charles M. Nelson Memorial Chapel. A Memorial Service will be at 10:00 am, Monday, June 6, 2022, at the Charles M. Nelson Memorial Chapel, with Alisha Zwirtz officiating. Memorial donations may be made to Loaves and Fishes Food Bank of The Ozarks, PO Box 149 Berryville, AR 72616; or The Berryville Library Fund, Spring Street, Berryville, AR 72616. Arrangements for Harley Gene Wingate are under the direction of Nelson Funeral Service. Online condolences may be sent to the family at nelsonfuneral.com.
[wpforms id=”9787″]
Paid Advertisement
