Frederick William BATEMAN

Frederick BATEMAN Obituary

Frederick William Bateman passed away at home in Vancouver, Washington in late December 2022. He was born in Spokane, Washington on August 2, 1948, to William Howard and Elizabeth Rae (Stroup) Bateman, the youngest of their three sons. Fred graduated from University High School in what is now Spokane Valley and attended Spokane Community College before transferring to Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana where he earned a BS degree in Commerce.

Although educated in finance and pursuing a successful career in finance, first as an Auditor for Washington State and later as the Director of Finance for C-Tran in Vancouver, WA, Fred's interests and activities were many and varied. His success came early. At the age of 11, he took on a paper route that later grew to a six-mile route with 160 customers. Around the same time, his mother encouraged him to raise bees for their honey. Success was achieved with 200 hives and an active interest in the American Beekeeper Federation of Spokane, including working with Senator Henry M (Scoop) Jackson to pass the Honey Research and Promotion Act of 1968 in Congress.

Fred was a stamp and stamp album collector throughout his life and was always happy to receive the latest international stamp issue from myriad countries. He had a variety of short-wave radios, was active in Spokane Public Radio, and would rarely miss listening to live opera performances from the MET. Fred was an active volunteer in Vancouver and Clark County government serving on and as Chair of the City/County Telecommunications Commission and annually braving all kinds of weather to help conduct the Vancouver Annual Trail Count. Collections also included model railroad sets and testing and enjoying many an IPA.

Fred's friends mostly remember his selfless assistance to friends in need whether to take care of their dogs and cats when they were unable, attend to their homes while away or just be there to listen. He knew more about his neighborhood through his daily walks and talks along the way than most of his neighbors.

Fred is survived by his brother Richard Edwin Bateman and his wife Evelyn, of Bellevue, Washington, and predeceased by his parents and brother James L. Bateman.

Donations in Fred's name may be sent to the Humane Society for Southwest Washington online at https://hssw.org/dedication or mailed to 1100 NE 192nd Avenue, Vancouver, WA 98684.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Spokesman-Review on Jan. 22, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Frederick BATEMAN

3 Entries

Larry Yok

December 31, 2023

I met Fred when I was Director of Finance and Administration at Pierce Transit back in the 1980s and we remained friends throughout our careers. We quickly became co-conspirators creating a transit finance officers caucus in the Washington Municipal Finance Officers Association. I often called on his municipal finance compliance expertise to get me through audits. I later worked for/with Fred as his labor relations consultant in union negotiations at C-Tran. In addition, we were fellow railfans and shared our experiences riding passenger trains. I last saw Fred in Portland in November 2021 when we had lunch a more than a few beers. I will feel his absence whenever I am on a rail journey. My sympathies are with his family.

Judy Zeider

January 25, 2023

I got to know Fred Bateman when he was a member and finally chair of the City/County Telecommunications Commission. His was always the quiet but firm voice of reason. His passing is a loss to the entire community. My condolences to his family and many friends.

Sam Siciliano

January 22, 2023

A real shock to discover Fred has passed on. I spent many a pleasant hour with him drinking beer and discussing politics and music. He was a faithful Democrat, and our last contact was emails discussing whether Perez's lead would hold. He was also a big fan of opera, especially Wagner, and we would talk about opera, tenors, conductors and the like. I also met many of the dogs that he was babysitting over the years. He also really helped me after my father died in putting up my dad's stamp collection for sale at auction. I'll miss you, Fred, and the next time I have a beer, I'll drink a toast to you.

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