Gary Bates

Gary Earl Bates, 74, of Salem passed away Friday, December 18, 2009 at Caprice Health Care Center in North Lima. Gary was born in Goshen on April 28, 1935 the son of the late Carl and Bertha (Weingart) Bates; he graduated from Berlin Center and operated his own farm. Gary also was a Rural Route Mail Carrier for the Salem area for 35 years and delivered the Salem News for 10 years after that. He coached little league baseball for several years and just loved being in the outdoors. Mr. Bates is survived by his wife Eileen Ruth (Hough) Bates of Salem, two sons Gary I. Bates, Timothy Bates and his children; Heidi, Dustin, Chrystal, and Jaypril, two daughters; Susan L. Martin and her daughter Christina Martin, Janet L. Stratton and her children; Michael, Casandra and Hunter, and six great grandchildren all of Salem, He is also survived by three brothers; Oakley, Glen, and Oral Bates all of Salem. A Memorial Service will be held at Brown Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 7:00 PM with Pastor John Ryser officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home two hours prior to the service. Burial will take place in Bunker Hill Cemetery. Contributions can be made in Gary’s honor to National Parkinson Foundation Inc. 1501 NW 9th Avenue, Bob Hope Road, Miami FL, 33136-1494. Friends may send condolences online at www.brownfhonline.com. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Home.

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