Wesley Jay Bates

Wesley Jay Bates, 65, of Ocala, FL passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 25, 2024 surrounded by his loved ones.

Wesley was born in Wilmington and raised in Bear, DE. He graduated from Christiana High School in 1976. He joined the Air Force in 1977, where he would meet his wife, Diana. After serving, Wesley and Diana settled into their family home in Bear, DE with their two sons. Wesley worked full-time as a private investigator and enjoyed part-time work as a DSUA softball official for 15 years. He went on to work security at Dupont where he would eventually retire in 2016. Shortly after his retirement, he moved to Florida and found a loving community at Meadowbrook Church.

Wesley enjoyed watching sports, golfing, gardening and putting together puzzles. He loved telling stories and was always thinking of others. Most of all he loved his family and it brought him so much joy to put smiles on their faces.

He is survived by his loving wife, Diana Bates; sons, Raymond Bates, and Eric Bates and his wife Jacqueline; granddaughter, Aiyla; brother, Lee Bates and his wife Penny; and sister, Nancy Ibrahim. He was preceded in death by his mother, Merelyn Bates Grandel and father, John Bates.

A memorial service will be held at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery located at 2465 Chesapeake City Rd, Bear DE 19701 on Friday, May 31st at 2:00 PM.