Kenneth L. Bates

Kenneth L. Bates age 82, of Smithville, OH, formerly of Caldwell, OH passed away Monday, July 9, 2018 at the Aultman Hospital in Canton, OH. He was born July 4, 1936 in Noble County, OH a son of the late Chester T. and Edith A. Tarleton Bates.

He was a member of the St. Stephen Catholic Church in Caldwell and most recently attended St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Wooster, OH. He loved to hunt and fish for many years. He enjoyed spending time on his CB Radio. He was a member of the Wayne County R.E.A.C.T. He worked as an iron worker/welder retiring from Diebold Safe and Lock. He also worked at Liquid Carbonics. He will always be remembered by his family as someone always willing to help a neighbor or a friend. In his retirement he was the ultimate handyman that could fix anything.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by 1 son Michael D. Bates and a sister Irene Guiler Bates.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Wilma Nau Bates, whom he married August 31, 1957; 1 son Kenneth E. (Mimi) Bates of Massillon, OH; 2 daughters Lisa A. (Mike) Crawford of Wooster, OH and Theresa (Stuart) Swinehart of Apple Creek, OH; 10 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; 1 sister Shirley Ann (Ray) Jones of Lehigh Acres, FL; daughter-in-law Kathy Bates of Apple Creek. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and friends.

The family will receive friends for visitation Friday, July 13, 2018 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the St. Stephen Catholic Church, 1036 Belford Street, Caldwell, OH 43724. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the conclusion of visitation Friday at 1:00 PM at the St. Stephen Catholic Church, with Rev. Father Wayne Morris and Rev. Father Dale Tornes serving as Concelebrants. Inurnment at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Caldwell, will be held at a later date.

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