Bates, William J. "Bill" 1927-2006

BATES, ROLANDO, PORTER

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/23/2006 at 16:44:19

William J. "Bill" Bates, 79, of Newton died Friday, July 7, 2006, at Hospice of Jasper County Monarch Wing at Skiff Medical Center in Newton.

A funeral service will be Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at Wallace Family Funeral Home in Newton with the Rev. Merle Smith, chaplain of Skiff Medical Center in Newton, officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Highland Cemetery in Mystic.

The family will greet friends from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials will be accepted to 40 and 8 Nursing Scholarship Fund through the American Legion Post 111 in Newton or to Hospice of Jasper County in Newton.

The son of Clyde Alston and Ena Elizabeth Johanna (Rolando) Bates, he was born April 5, 1927, in Newton. He graduated from Mystic High School in 1945. He served in the U. S. Navy during World War II. On Nov. 25, 1950, he married Doris Porter in Centerville.

He worked as a molder and superintendent at the Newton Foundry for 21 years; a foreman at the Dresser Corporation and the Schwabb Corporation for four years; personnel manager and safety director for 10 years; and was an independent driver for the Yellow Cab Company for 21 years.

Mr. Bates was a member of American Legion Post 111, member and secretary for 40 and 8 of the American Legion, member and past president of the Iowa LST Association and member of the USS Windsor. He also was a Boy Scout leader for 20 years and was a cub master, scout master and explorer advisor and was a Do-Dad with Campfire Girls for seven years. He coached Little League for 10 years and was a member of the Brotherhood of the Order of the Arrow. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, canoeing and being with his children. He grew up in Mystic and moved to Newton in 1954.

Survivors include his wife, Doris; three sons and daughters-in-law, William R. "Bill" and Lori Bates of Des Moines, John M. and Rose Bates of Washington, Mich., and Richard L. "Rich" and Carla Bates of Newton; two daughters and a son-in-law, Mary Elizabeth Anne "Beth" Ernst of Davenport and L. Susan and Kurt Kollasch of Oskaloosa; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Robert D. "Bob" and Donna Bates of Rathbun, Arthur V. "Art" Bates of Moravia and Russell C. and Deb Bates of Des Moines.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a granddaughter in infancy and three infant sisters.

The Newton Daily News, July 10, 2006