He was the son of the late Luke and Carrie Bates. He was also preceded in death by two children: Samantha Bates and Tommy Waters; one sister, Annette Hooper; and one brother, Wilford Bates.
Survivors include his wife, Sandra Bates, of Delano; five children: Jennifer Roach of Russellville, Jared Olszko of Cleveland, Ohio, and Tabitha, Sara and Savanna Bates, all of Delano; four grandchildren: Lindsey and Will Roach and Tyler and Serenity Watters; four sisters and brothers-in-law: Billie and Tony Carroll of Reliance, Nina and Eddie Rowland of Athens, Kay and Jim Woodruff of Sweetwater and Doreen Bates of Apex, N.C.; five brothers and sisters-in-law: Ross and Mary Bates of Durham N.C., Danny Bates of Delano, and Jimmy Bates and Jerold Bates, both of Benton, Mickey and June Bates of Reliance, and Bernice Bates; and 14 nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be held 3 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011, in the South Chapel, of Bordwine Funeral Home in Etowah with the Rev. Eddie Rowland officiating.
The family will receive friends from noon to 3 p.m., prior to the service.
Interment will follow at Delano Cemetery.
If you are unable to attend, you may sign the guest registry at www.bordwinefuneralhome.com.
