Donald "Ducky" Abraham Gates, 91 of Leonardtown, MD, passed away on November 6, 2008 at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, Charlotte Hall, MD.

Born February 12, 1917 in Silesia, MD, he was the son of the late Theodore Philip and Annie Laurie Raum Gates.

Mr. Gates was a veteran of the United States Army, serving during WWII; he served with the 378th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons, Battalion in Iceland. Following the war he was a Pipe Fitter.

Mr. Gates is survived by his siblings; Howard Gates of Coral Gables, FL and Jean Beverage, of Mechanicsville, MD, niece Julie Hughes of Mechanicsville, MD and nephew Thomas Hughes of Leonardtown, MD. In addition to his parents Mr. gates was preceded in death by his wife Catherine Theresa Amidon Gates and 11 brothers and sisters.

The family received friends on Sunday, November 9, 2008 from 2pm to 5pm in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Monday, November 10, 2008 at St. George's Catholic Church, Valley Lee, MD with Monsignor Karl Chimiak officiating.

Interment will take place on November 17, 2008 at 11am in the Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham, MD.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. George's Catholic Church, P.O. Box 9, Valley Lee, MD 20692 and/or Second District Volunteer Rescue and Fire Department, P.O. Box 1, Valley Lee, MD 20692

Arrangements provided by Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD