Mr. Dallis I. Gates, 88, of Lake Suzy, Florida, passed away Sunday, March 15, 2009 at TideWell Hospice & Palliative Care House in Port Charlotte, Florida.

Dallis was born on March 9, 1921 in Brainerd, Minnesota to the late Ralph & Anna (nee-Gordon) Gates. Having graduated with a degree in Engineering, Dallis worked his entire career with Honeywell International. Honeywell transferred Dallis into their Aerospace program in Florida in 1969, and was one of many engineers directly responsible for today’s space program. Dallis moved from his longtime residence in Clearwater to Largo, Florida, where he and his wife Marjorie resided until relocating to Port Charlotte in 1995. Never one to sit idle, Dallis was an active man who volunteered time to his communities Volunteer Fire Department, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and Time Out Respite Care. A veteran of World War II, U.S. Marine Corps, he was an active member and past officer of the Lions Club of Largo, and member of San Antonio Catholic Church of Port Charlotte.

Dallis is survived by his beloved wife of more than 65 years, Marjorie V. Gates; and his beloved children; daughters, Teresa Gates of Port Charlotte, Jeanne (husband Bill) Graves of Denver, CO, Mary (husband Ron) Sandhoff, also of Denver, and Patricia (husband Michael) Henry of Tacoma, WA; a son, James (wife Maggie) Gates of Cape Coral, FL, 9 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren; a sister, Ivy (husband Joe) Johnson of Rogers, MN, 1 niece, 1 nephew, and other extended family members.