Phillips Lancaster Bates

Dr. Phillips Bates GREENWOOD - Phillips Lancaster Bates, M.D., 96, resident of Wesley Commons died February 13, 2015 at Hospice House. A leader in the Greenwood community for more than 60 years, Dr. Phillips L. Bates was a life-long learner who imparted to his children, grandchildren and friends his Christian faith, curiosity, humor and passion about the world. Dr. Bates was born in Alvarado, TX on August 27, 1918. After graduating in 1940 from Furman University, he received an MA degree in biology from Syracuse University in 1942 and an MD from the University of Rochester in 1945. He served in the US Navy at Bethesda Medical University, at San Juan Hospital in Puerto Rico, and at St. Albans Hospital in New York, and was Chief of Urology at the Naval Hospital in Camp Lejeune, NC. Dr. Bates' medical practice in Greenwood, SC began in 1954, where he served as Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery at Self Memorial Hospital (now Self Regional Healthcare). He was a diplomat of the American Board of Urology, and a member of the American Medical Association and the American Urological Association. He was a past President of the Southern Society of Urological Surgeons, and of the Carolina Urological Association. Among the many positions Dr. Bates held in service to his community were President of the YMCA, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce, President of the Rotary Club, Board of the Greenwood County Public Library, Board of the Savannah River District, and President of the Greenwood Country Club. He taught adult Sunday school classes for many years at First Presbyterian Church where he also served as a Deacon and an Elder. After retirement from his medical practice, he was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels for six years. Dr. Bates married Legare Womble of Orangeburg, SC in 1943. Dr. and Mrs. Bates had three children: Steven Lancaster Bates, who died in infancy in 1946; Susan Legare Bates (Gilbert) Rebillet of Dallas, TX; and Sarah Louise Bates (Bill) McWilliams of Columbia, SC. Legare Bates died in 1986. Phil married Nancy Gilder Wallace Bates in 1990 and they were married for 15 years until Nancy Gilder's death in 2005. Dr. Bates is survived by his two daughters and their husbands; his three stepchildren and their spouses, Abney and Susan Wallace, and Gilder and Joe Cantrell, all of Greenwood, and Rick and Becky Wallace of Columbia; and four grandsons: William Reece (Lauren) McWilliams, III and Phillips Lancaster (Christy) McWilliams, all of Columbia; Andrew Legare McWilliams of Charlotte, NC and Marc Legare Rebillet of Dallas, TX. Dr. Bates also leaves four great-grandsons: William Reece McWilliams, IV, Walker Burke McWilliams, James Legare McWilliams, and Phillips Lancaster McWilliams, Jr., all of Columbia. He is also survived by his very special friend, Rachel Breazeale of Wesley Commons. Dr. Bates particularly loved to play golf and to travel traveling to play golf was even better and to engage in lively debate about politics. To the chagrin of his liberal friends, he was a skillful and forceful advocate for conservative issues. Memorial services will be conducted at 2 PM Saturday, February 21st at First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Charles L. Moates officiating. A private family inurnment will be in Greenwood Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends in the church lobby immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers the family request that memorials be made to Self Regional Healthcare Foundation, 1325 Spring St., Greenwood, SC 29646, the First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 426, Greenwood, SC 29648 or to the charity of one's choice. The family would like to express their thanks to caregivers Liz Johnson and Mary Gantt and to the staff on the orthopedic floor at Self Regional, at Greenwood Rehabilitation, and Dr. Robert Todd and staff at Hospice House of the Piedmont for their kind and loving care. For online condolences please visit www.blythfuneralhome.com. Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Bates family.