Larry Bates

Larry, dad, daddy, Uncle Larry, grandpa was born in Mena, Arkansas on March 4, 1942, to parents Edwin Bates (dec) and Maxine Titsworth (dec), joining older sister, Edwina Bates Waddington (Ralph, dec). In his teens, his mother married the man who would become the father figure in dad’s life, William Gipson (dec), and soon after, he had a baby sister, Mendy Gipson Coe (David).

He joined the Army on March 27, 1959, and served as a corpsman (medic) until July 13, 1962. Larry Bates and Susan Smith Bates were married on January 21, 1967 and celebrated 58 years together this year. He began a 31-year career with Carroll Electric on July 17, 1973, retiring from that career January 2, 2004. During this time, he also served the community as a city councilman from 1986 to 2001 and later as the Mayor of Huntsville from 2001 to 2010.

The best work he did was that of a servant of the Lord. He was mission minded and helped establish 2 churches in Northwest Arkansas, Landmark MBC in Bentonville and Huntsville MBC in Huntsville. Though he was not a pastor, he was a teacher and treasurer, supporter of his pastor and student of the Bible through countless hours of study and prayerful pursuit of a deeper relationship with the Lord.

Larry and Susan had two children, Jana Hardage who is married to James, and Scott Bates who is married to Esther. Born of those relationships are five grandchildren, Whitney Hardage White (Ron), Jimmy Hardage (Jay), Calvin Hardage (Katelynn) Miriam Bates and Naomi Bates. The Lord blessed them with a bonus of 4 great-grandchildren: Arabella and Izaak White, and Allee and Jojo Hardage. He also had two brothers-in-law, John Smith and his wife Cathie, Rick Smith and his wife Christie. He has a host of nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews all of whom he loved dearly.

After an 86-day battle, dad went to be with Jesus on September 8, 2025, a little past 1:00 am. We are grateful for the years God loaned him to us and for the legacy he has left of a life lived for the Lord.

Pallbearers:

Hot Springs -

Jimmy Hardage, Calvin Hardage, Uriel Diaz, Caleb Anderson, Rod Spurlin, Cade Beckwith

Honorary: Paul Sanders, Sam Mullins, Brian Harris, Ben Wackman, Mike Mullins, Allen Bass, Jimmy Oliver

Huntsville -

Jason Combs, Carter Combs, Brandon Morgan, Tim Smith, Brent Smith, Shane Smith

Honorary: Archie Czarnikow, Dewey Mott, Rick Smith, John Smith