Bates, Florence Norton 1920-2007

BATES, WHITMER, NORTON, KELLY, YEDLIK, MEALY, BAUMANN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 10/4/2016 at 14:27:54

The Quad-City Times
Davenport, IA
Apr. 20, 2007

FLORENCE NORTON BATES

DAVENPORT--Florence Norton Bates, age 86, of Davenport, died Wednesday, April 18 at her home in Davenport. Florence Norton Bates was born November 14, 1920, to Charles and Ruby (Whitmer) Norton in Davenport. She married Leslie W. Bates on December 18, 1945, in Davenport. He preceded her in death on November 15, 1988. She graduated from Wilton High School in 1937, from the Iowa Teacher's College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Marycrest College, Davenport. She proudly served her country in the United States Navy during World War II. Florence taught in rural schools, the Wilton Community Schools and for 30 years at the Davenport Community Schools, retiring in 1984. Florence was a member of Newcomb Presbyterian Church, Davenport, where she served as an Elder. She was a member of the Davenport American Legion Post #26, the Iowa State Teachers Association, the Davenport Retired Teachers Association and was a 50 year member of the Purity Chapter of Order of Eastern Star. Florence enjoyed being active in her Church and reading. Above all she loved her family and cherished her time with them. She loved to travel and in August of 2006 she took her entire family to Scotland. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Newcomb Presbyterian Church, Davenport. Additional visitation will be one hour prior to the service at Newcomb Presbyterian Church. Services will be held on Monday at 11:30 a.m. at the Newcomb Presbyterian Church, Davenport. The officiant will be Rev. Dr. Richard A. King. Musical selections will be provided by organist Charla Waite and piper Matthew Beattie. Serving as pallbearers will be Florence's grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be Florence's granddaughters. Interment will take place at the Oakdale Cemetery, Wilton, Iowa, with military honors proved by the Davenport American Legion Post #26. She is survived and lovingly remembered by her daughter, Carol and her husband Kevin Kelly, Davenport; her sons, Dennis L. and his wife Jane Bates, Blue Grass, Iowa, and Rev. John N. and his wife Nina Bates, Rudd, Iowa; 11 grandchildren: Emily and George Allen, Charlotte, NC., Elizabeth Bates, Davenport, Matthew Bates, Clear Lake, Iowa, Allison Bates, Rudd, Iowa, Casey Kelly, Davenport, Caryn Kelly, Tucson, Ariz., Cathy and John Handrick, Lake City, Fla., Kyle Kelly, Davenport, Christina Kelly, Davenport, Kraig Kelly, Davenport, and Carolyn Kelly, Davenport. She is also survived by three sisters: Lucille Yedlik, Vinton, Iowa, Alice Mealy, Mason City, Iowa, and Miriam and her husband Dr. Robert Baumann, Grinnell, Iowa; two brothers, William and his wife Judy Norton, Lowden, Iowa, and Harold and his wife Brenda Norton, Apple Valley, Calif.; her sister-in-law, Maxine Norton, Muscatine, Iowa; her brothers-in-law, Everett and his wife Evelyn Bates, Sun City, Ariz., and Kenneth Bates, Huntsville, Ala., and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brother Wesley Norton. Memorial donations may be to the Newcomb Presbyterian Church in her memory. Online remembrances and condolences may be left at http://www.bentleyfuneralhome.com.