John Henry Yates

John Henry Yates, 89, of Napoleon, Ohio passed away peacefully at his home, on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. He was born in Grundy, Virginia on February 24, 1934, to the late Dewey and Ida (Stiltner) Yates. On April 27, 1957, he married Ruth Darlene Willeman at Emanuel Lutheran Church, Napoleon. They shared 64 years together until her passing in December 2021. John retired from General Motors in 1981. He enjoyed gardening and canning some of his own food. He loved to coon hunt and was especially fond of his coon dogs.
John is survived by his children, Nedra (Terry) Hall, Polly Kistner, Paula (Earl) Caldwell, Roseanna (Phillip) Caldwell, and Kevin (Melissa) Yates; grandchildren, JoAnn (Mark) Ritter, Emily (Derek) Lantz, Stacie (Pete) Maas, Bethany (Zach) Heitman, Brent (Kat) Kistner, Katherine (Chris) Moore, Amy (Dennis) Beaver, Angel Caldwell, Mason Caldwell, Alexis Yates, Nicolas Yates, and Brennen Yates; 25 great grandchildren; 5 great great grandchildren; and siblings, Jerry Yates, Elzie Yates, and Leon Yates. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth; and siblings, Hufford Yates, Earnest Yates, Margie Breeding, Burlin Yates, Lonzo Yates, Berchie Blankenship, Lottie Van Dyke, June Hamilton, Roosevelt Yates, Vada Yates, and Jesse Yates.
Friends and family will be received at the Rodenberger-Gray Funeral Home, Napoleon on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, from 11:00 AM until the time of services at 1:00 PM. Interment will follow at Hoy Cemetery. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Henry County Humane Society or the First Baptist Church, Napoleon. Online condolences may be shared with the family at rodenbergergray.com.
The family would like to thank the staff at Genacross Lutheran Home and Elara Caring Hospice for their kind and meticulous care of John in his last months.