Bob Bates (Robert S. Bates, Jr) passed on April 3, 2023 in Carmel, IN.
Bob was born in Meadville, PA on July 23,1938 to Robert Sacket Bates and Margaret Herr Bates. He attended Dennison University, served in the Army for two years, then graduated from Alleghany College. He was a reporter for Meadville Tribune in PA, and Activities Director for the YMCA in both Reading, PA and Anderson, IN, and employed by the Social Security Administration in Richmond and Indianapolis. Family and church were first and foremost in his life. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his first wife Sandra Walters, his step son-in-law Lawrance Morrissey, and his brother-in-law Jon Starn. Surviving, in addition to his wife Jean Swickard Bates, is a son Rob Bates (Amy), a step-daughter Jennifer Morrissey, a step-son Jeff Hickman (Christie), a son Andrew Bates (Karen), a son David Bates (Holly), and a son Jon Bates (Mallory). There are 13 grandchildren, Cassi, Matt, Maddi and Will Bates, Aidan, Alyssa and Eli Morrissey, Margaux and Finn Hickman, Regan Bates, Ellie, Emma, and Lyla Bates. Also surviving are two sisters, Sue Starn and Becky Skeen (David), brother-in-law David Swickard (Kristine), and sister-in-law Nancy Swickard and nephew Alex. Other nephews and nieces include Allison Mackin, Kathy VanEeuwen, Jon and Michael Starn, and Alex and Chloe Swickard.
Calling hours are at the First Church of Christ Scientist, Carmel, 11580 Haverstick Rd, Carmel, IN on April 10 from 5 to 7pm. A celebration of life service will follow at 7. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the First Church of Christ Scientist, Carmel,
I was a freshman Student Council member at Meadville (Pa.) High School in 1955 when Bob was council president in his senior year. Later, I was a reporter for The Meadville Tribune and was tutored by Bob in my rookie years. He was a modest and caring person, but up to any reporting assignment, no matter how tough. Our wish on the staff was that Bob (we called him Junior) would stay on and run the Tribune after his father retired. But his calling took him elsewhere, and so did mine. Bob sent me a very nice note after seeing the Tribune discussed in my 2014 memoir, “Adventures of a mid-America Street Urchin.” Many of us have fond memories of those days at the Trib. I see in his obituary that Bob spent most of his time helping others. That says so much about him.