May 6, 1920 – Sept. 1, 2006
Paul William Bates, 86, of Sweet home died peacefully in his sleep on Friday, Sept. 1, while at a care home in Springfield.
He was born to William R. and Ethel M. (Mock) Bates in Noxen, Pa.
At age 19, he served one year in the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1940. In March 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Schofield Barracks on the island of Oahu during the enemy attack on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. He also fought at Guadalcanal Jan. 10, 1943 to Jan. 26, 1943. He was 27th infantry, an expert Rifleman and Scout. He received the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon, American Defense Ribbon and Bronze Campaign Star.
Mr. Bates grew up in the northern parts of Pennsylvania and at 25, he married Elmira E. Lengle while he resided in New York. In 1953, he and his family of three children and wife traveled to California. After four more trips by car across the United States, he and his family settled in Sweet Home in 1960 and called it home.
He spent much of his youth as a hunter and trapper. He was running a dairy farm when he left New York. In Oregon he worked as a logger, millwright, and welder. He was a great shade tree mechanic.
He loved the outdoors. His Mohawk heritage gave him a respect for nature and he learned to live off the land. He loved to spend his spare time hunting bear, cougar and raccoon with his many hounds and hunting partners. He hunted deer and elk also. He planted many gardens for yearly canning.
He is survived by his ex-wife and best friend, Elmira E. Bates of Sweet Home; daughters, Sandra J. and her husband, Jack Smith of Sweet Home, and Mary A. and husband Mark Galloway of Sweet Home; and his son, William P. and his wife Sandra (Babe) Bates of Sweet Home, 12 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
He is preceded in death by his parents, four sisters and one grandchild, Colette Ann Valentine, in 1966.
Viewing will be 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, at Workman & Steckly Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, at Workman & Steckly Funeral Chapel.
Workman & Steckly Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.