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Robert Bates Obituary
"Motorboat",
has made his last call out. On August 4, 2017 at the age of 79, Bob's big rig ran out of gas while surrounded by his family.
Bob was born October 29, 1937 in South Bend, Indiana and baptized at Notre Dame. He served in the United States Navy and was a truck driver by trade. He was a master of road maps and distasteful jokes. He enjoyed reading, piddling around, aggravating anyone, good food and obnoxious tee shirts. Bob was the reason the term "Bates time" was coined.
Bob always said when he died they would cut his head open and road maps would fall out. He generously donated his body to science so University of Louisville students could study this anomaly.
Bob's almost 80 year journey forged miles of laughter, generosity, compassion and wisdom.
Bob leaves behind a family he was very proud of including his wife of 54 years and love of his life Mary E. Bates; daughter Christine; daughter and son-in-law Andy and Albert Morriss; son Michael Bates; daughter and son-in-law Mary Beth and Sean Silvernagel; son and daughter-in-law Robert Daniel "Dan" and Aimee Bates; grandchildren Scott, Douglas Rice, Albert Morriss, Heather Morriss, Ashley Benningfield, Elizabeth "Elly" Bates, Avery, Alex, and Evan Silvernagel, Maddox Bates; great grandchildren, Josephine, Conner, and Tanner, Kaydee Straw, and Colton McAtee; half brother Michael Bates; and numerous brothers and sisters-in-law, and nieces and nephews.
Bob is preceded in death by his Ma and Pa, parents, and granddaughter Nicole Morriss.
His family and friends will be celebrating his life Saturday, August 19 at the Brownsboro Community Center in Crestwood, KY at 2 p.m.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Robert Bates
Sponsored by The Courier-Journal.
4 Entries
Michael Bates
August 8, 2025
You are still missed.
Andrus Michael Bates
August 8, 2024
Rest in peace, Bob.
Michael Bates
August 19, 2017
Bob was my big brother. When I was young he showed me how to tap out messages in Morse code. He worked in encryption in the Navy and knew how to rapidly send messages in code. I remember a time when I was about 10 years old when the family (my mother, my brother Bob, my brother Paul and I) was gathered in the kitchen and I mentioned my name as Michael Andrus Bates. Bob said, "Don't you know your name?" I died right there because thoughts of adoption ran through my head. Again, he asked, "Don't you know your real name, Mike?" I felt so bad that I wasn't born into the family and Bob told my mother to get my birth certificate. Bob pointed out that my name was listed incorrectly as Andrus Michael Bates. Richard Daley (soon to be mayor of Chicago) was the Clerk of Court of Cook County and had entered the name wrong. He showed the certificate to mean and said, "That's your real name. I'm surprised nobody ever told you before." I was so relieved that I wasn't adopted not that there is anything wrong with adoption, but the knowledge that I might have a different family. Bob laughed so hard about the whole matter. Bob graciously let his nephew, my son Jeremy, stay for awhile on summer vacation and Jeremy always talked about the good times, the jokes and the golf cart he got to drive at his Uncle Bob's house. The Bates humor, of which Bob was endowed, is legendary. The Bates intelligence, of which Bob was blessed is stellar. I will miss my brother, but as the saying goes-"when a loved one becomes a memory the memory becomes a treasure." I will treasure my brother as well as my other brother, Paul, who died last May. To my nephews and nieces I wish you peace in your time of grieving and sadness. Remember the good and the loving times of your father and be glad you he loved you so much. Please, feel free to contact me on Facebook (Michael Bates) or by e-mail [email protected]. I have pictures of Bob and the family when we were all very young.
Melvin Marsh
August 15, 2017
Bob always was a wonderful friend........he will be missed by many
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