Robert Louis "Bob" Bates

1936 - 2011

ELYRIA - Robert "Bob" Louis Bates, 74 years of age, and a resident of Elyria, was called home by his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Saturday, April 30, 2011 at Center Ridge Nursing Home in North Ridgeville following a long term illness.
He was born June 24, 1936 in Elyria where he was raised. He moved to Amherst in 1956, then to Florida in 1981 and returning to Elyria in 1986 where he has lived since that time.
Bob worked as a carpenter and then opened the Bates Construction Co. which he owned and operated for twenty years, retiring in 1974. He was a member of Faith Baptist Church in Amherst. His hobbies included attending car shows and races, trains and visiting the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. He loved traveling, camping, his trips to Burger King to meet his family and friends for "Monkey Business Meetings" and keeping his yard emaculate. A man of faith, he loved to talk to others and share his faith in Jesus Christ wherever he went. He was a loving husband and father and whose gift of mentoring well will also be remembered by his children.
Bob leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of fifty-five years Maxine Mildred Bates (nee: Garthe); his sons and their wives Robert Garthe and Nancy Bates, Thomas Allen and Carol Bates and Daniel Todd and Andrea Bates, all of Elyria, and William Louis and Sylvia Bates of Liverpool, New York; his daughters and their husbands Cynthia and David Whelpley, Tamara Ann and Stephen Connell, and Christine Claire Bates, all of Elyria; twenty-four grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; and his sister Genny Sprague of Elyria.
He was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Mattie Finney (nee: Roseman); and his sister Ruth Ann Bates in 2010.
Friends may call Tuesday, May 3, 2011, from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Hempel Funeral Home; 373 Cleveland Ave., Amherst. Additional visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 4, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to the time of service at 12:00 p.m. at Faith Baptist Church; 440 North Lake St., Amherst. The Rev. Michael Plog, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst Township.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Faith Baptist Church; 440 North Lake St., Amherst, OH 44001.
Additional information and online register book are available at www.hempelfuneralhome.com.
Question, please call Hempel Funeral Home at (440) 988-4451.