Gates, David Q. David Q. Gates, long-time resident of the Phoenix area, and beloved high school football and track coach in Mesa, died on July 13, 2017 in El Paso, Texas. He was 98 years old. Dave was born on February 7, 1919 in Los Angeles, California, where he spent his childhood years, later graduating from Occidental College and, during World War II, enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps where he was trained as a fighter pilot. After the war, Dave began his coaching career in Kanab, Utah and, in 1954, moved to Arizona where he became an assistant coach at Mesa High School, then later serving as head football coach at Westwood High School. Under his guidance, his teams were always competitive, regularly contending for, and winning, state titles. Dave retired from coaching in 1980 and moved to Ahwatukee, Arizona where he spent his days traveling, hiking, bicycling, gardening, playing water volleyball and, of course, watching sports. Dave was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille, and is survived by five children and step-children: Ron Peterson of Surprise, Arizona; Nancy Wodell of Pottstown, Pennsylvania; John Gates of El Paso, Texas; Cyndy Hendrickson of Mesa, Arizona; and Phil Peterson of Prescott, Arizona. In addition, he will be remembered by 16 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren. A memorial service for Dave will be held on Saturday, August 12, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. in the Ahwatukee Recreational Center, 5001 E. Cheyenne Dr., Phoenix, Arizona.