Millicent Simonds "Millie" Bates

XENIA — Millicent ("Millie") Simonds Bates, devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on July 14, 2025, at age 103. Born on July 8, 1922, in Sparta, IL, to Thomas W. and Zuma Crain Simonds, Millie lived her long life with a drive to do her best. At school, she was a cheerleader and active in the debate club, and was named valedictorian of both her 8th grade and Sparta Township High School class of 1940. In her senior year of high school, she was selected by her classmates and teachers to receive the D.A.R. citizenship award which recognizes and rewards individuals who possess the qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism in their homes, schools, and communities. As a young woman, Millie took a leadership role in her Presbyterian church events, and was a cub scout den mother. After graduating from St. Louis Business College in 1941, Millie was employed by the Ralston Purina Company. Upon the death of her father that year, she returned to Sparta to live with and support her widowed mother during WWII while her four brothers served in branches of the military. In Sparta, she was employed at the Illinois Power Company. At the end of WWII, she enrolled at the University of Illinois on a scholarship; while there, she was a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, a scholastic fraternity, and Gamma Phi Beta, a social sorority. In June 1947, at the end of her sophomore year, she married Joseph C. Bates, Jr. She and Joe had five children while he started his own construction company which he sold in 1966 to join the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa). This led to the family's move to Richmond, IN, then to Melbourne, Australia, and lastly to Alcoa's Pittsburgh, PA, headquarters where they made their home in Sewickley Heights. Millie and Joe joined the Sewickley Presbyterian Church where she was often a lay reader, and served as a deacon and member of the Personnel Council. She was a member of the Village Garden Club, Allegheny Country Club, the Rolling Rock Club and the Edgeworth Club. She tutored disabled children at the facility now known as The Watson Institute where she became a Trustee and eventually the Board's Chair. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Laughlin Children's Center and was for a time its president. After Joe retired, Millie encouraged him to renew his pilot's license and purchase a single engine airplane. Together, they had many adventures in their "flying machine," visiting family and friends all over North America. They flew to Alaska three times, to Canada, and as far north as Newfoundland and Labrador. Millie passed a "pinch-hitter" course so that in an emergency she could land the airplane. After her husband's death, Millie moved to Xenia, OH, in 2007 to be near her youngest daughter. She joined the Faith Community United Methodist Church and later the Xenia United Presbyterian Church. At the time of her death, she was a resident at The Patterson assisted living facility in Beavercreek where she was lovingly cared for by nurses and carers. Millie's most cherished times were those spent with family. She was preceded in death by her parents, her adoring husband, six brothers, a sister, five sisters-in-law, one brother-in-law, grandson Clark Roderick, members of the Sparta Supper Club, and countless friends. She is survived by her five devoted children: Jan Bates Wheeler (Mark) of Athens, GA; Joseph Clark Bates III (Mary Louise) of Falmouth, ME; Maya Bates (Bruce Smith) of Poland, IN; Leslie Bates Johnson (Doug) of Xenia, OH; and Robert Bates of Gahanna, OH. She is also survived by seven beloved grandchildren: Anna Wheeler Rosenquist (Niels), Eleanor Bates Keeler (Jake), Elizabeth Simonds Roderick, David Roderick, Samuel Bates Wheeler (Micha), Joseph C. Bates IV (Cheryl), and Thomas Roderick (Carolyn), and thirteen great-grandchildren: Raoul, Aage, Jacob, Bo, Molly, Asa, Max, Ren, Kai Millie, Penny, Clark, Elliott, and Ethan. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and a host of friends. The family is grateful to the dedicated nurses and carers at Legacy Village and The Patterson for their loving care. Burial: Caledonia Cemetery, Sparta, IL, next to her husband. Service at 10:30 a.m., on July 23, 2025 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Sparta, IL. Memorial Service: Millie's life will be honored at a date to be determined at Xenia United Presbyterian Church with Pastors Rick Tettau and Mike Wakeland officiating. Funeral Directors: Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, IL. Contributions in Millie's memory may be made to: (in Xenia) Xenia United Presbyterian Church, Faith Community United Methodist Church, Greene County Council on Aging, and Greene County Library; (in Sewickley) The Watson Institute, Laughlin Children's Center, and The Sewickley Presbyterian Church; and (in Sparta) Westminster Church and the Sparta Library.