Robert Keith "Red" Bates Sr.

Published in San Bernardino Sun on March 11, 2010

Robert Keith "Red" Bates Sr., 84, of #1 Oak Ridge Rd. Apt. 207, Ottumwa, IA, formerly of Rialto, CA, died at 10:50 A.M. March 9, 2010, at Ottumwa Regional Health Center.

He was born October 9, 1925, in Ottumwa, to Lawrence Finley and Marjorie Logan Bates. He married Myrtle India Etta Babb, May 17, 1946. She preceded him in death November 18, 1987. He married Helen Williams December 23, 1989. A graduate of Ottumwa High School, he moved to Rialto, CA, in 1951, and returned to Ottumwa in 1994. He worked for 35 years for the Santa Fe Railroad, retiring in 1985.

He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and was a member for 60 years of the United Transportation Union. He coached high school baseball, football and basketball, and for 20 years coached Pony League baseball. He played in the New York Yankee farm system, and was a scout for the Atlanta Braves.

Surviving is his wife, Helen; a daughter, Frances E. (Richard M.) Guntrum o f Westerville, OH; a son, William E. (Barbara) Bates of Ottumwa; a step son, James P. (Lyn) Williams of Ottumwa; three step daughters, Janice L. (Robert) Price of Newton, IA, Junella L. (Steve) Jones of Ottumwa, Julie L. Williams of California, MO; 17 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; a brother, Lawrence "Doc" Bates of Ottumwa; a sister, Marian Dennison of Ottumwa; numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Robert K. Bates Jr.; a grandson; a brother, Billy Bates; and a sister, Patricia Van Eck.

Funeral Mass will be 10 A.M. Friday, at St. Patrick Catholic Church with Father John Spiegel and Rev. James H. Wakelin presiding. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Ottumwa. Visitation will begin at 11 A.M. Thursday, at Reece Funeral Home in Ottumwa.

A Christian Wake will be held at 5 P.M., Thursday at the funeral home followed by family visitation until 8 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Patrick Catholic Church or Ottumwa Babe Ruth.