Henry C. "Dusty" Oates Sr.

Henry C. "Dusty" Oates Sr. DUE WEST -- Henry C. "Dusty" Oates, Sr., 88, of Due West, SC, husband of Zelda Gambrell Oates, died peacefully on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at his residence. He was born in York, SC, to the late William Thomas Oates, Sr and Martha Belle Campbell Oates. Mr. Oates was most affectionately known as "Coach Oates." He was a WWII Veteran, having served in the U.S. Army stationed in Italy. Coach Oates was a 1951 graduate of Erskine College and a member of the Due West A.R.P Church, where he served as a former deacon. He was a long time member of the S.C. High School Coaches Association. He was a Coach, Teacher and School Administrator for 39 years. Coach Oates spent several years at Ford High School in Laurens, SC, and the remainder of his career at Dixie High School in Due West, SC. The football stadium at Dixie High School was named in his honor in 1989. In 1996, Coach Oates was inducted into the Erskine College Athletic Hall of Fame. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, William, Thomas and Samuel Oates. Coach Oates is survived by his wife of 64 years of the home; three sons, Dusty Oates, Jr. (Nancy) of Central, SC, Dr. Richard Oates (Kathy) of Gainesville, GA, and Sam Oates (Nancy) of Greenville, SC; six grandchildren, Caroline Oates, Amanda O. Harper (Ryan), Ryan Hunter Oates (Sharon), Campbell Oates, Jamie Oates and John Oates; three great-grandsons, Charlie and Henry Oates and Enoch Harper; and a sister, Margaret Oates Somerville of Clemson, SC. Graveside services will be 11:30 a.m. Thursday, June 4, 2015 in the Due West A.R.P Church Cemetery. A service to celebrate the life of Coach Oates will begin at 2 p.m. on Thursday in the Due West A.R.P Church, with the Rev. Calvin Draffin and Mr. Clebe McClary officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the church. The family is at the residence. Memorial contributions, in memory of Coach Oates, may be sent to the Dixie High School Foundation, PO Box 445, Due West, SC 29639; or to the Due West A.R.P Church, PO Box 397, Due West, SC 29639. A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visitingwww.harrisfuneral.com Harris Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Oates family.


This obituary was originally published in The Index-Journal (Greenwood, SC).