Charles L Bates Sr

View Video TributeMr. Charles Leonard Bates, Sr., 73, retired employee of UCAR, died Saturday, June 29, 2013 at his residence on Fleming Street. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 1:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with the Tennessee National Guard Chaplain officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by Tennessee National Guard. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 4:00 - 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Condolences may be offered online at www.oakesandnichols.com. A native of Wayne County, Michigan, he was the son of the late Horace Lee Bates and Fannie Coates Bates. He was married to Peggy Gene Hinson Bates who preceded him in death on April 22, 2002. Mr. Bates served in the U. S. Army and retired from the Tennessee National Guard as CW03 Ammunition Specialist. An avid collector, he had a variety of Civil War memorabilia, guns, lunch boxes, belt buckles, NASCAR items, Mule Day memorabilia, Roy Rogers and Buford Pusser collectibles. He had donated over thirty-two gallons of blood to American Red Cross throughout his lifetime. Mr. Bates was a member of Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19 and the Sons of the Confederacy. He was a member of Halls Chapel Church of Christ. Survivors include two sons, Charles Leonard "Chuck" (Dana) Bates, Jr. of Columbia; Barry Ross (Krista) Bates of Riverview, Florida; daughter, Debra "Debbie" Bates (Kevin) Farris of Columbia; eight grandchildren, Ryan (Christy) Marshall of Mt. Pleasant; Tiffany Marshall, Joshua (Lauren) Marshall, Keeley Farris, and Justin Bates, all of Columbia; Brennan Bates and Tabitha Bates, both of Florida, Corey Brady of Manchester; eight great grandchildren, Adasyn Grace Marshall Goetz, Saylee Danielle Marshall, Johnson Blake Marshall, and James Gray Marshall, all of Columbia; Kaden Ray Marshall, Karlie Alexis Marshall, Kasey Kane Marshall, all of Hohenwald; Jack Brady of Manchester; Paige Gene Marshall expected September 9, 2013; two step great grandchildren, Bryan Cummins and Chelsea Jones, both of Mt. Pleasant; two sisters, Martha Ann Bates of Manchester; Bobbie Jean Demarino of Onancock, Virginia; his beloved dachshund Babes; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Charlsey Leann Bates and Braylen Bates; and one sister, Ruth Ann Bates. Active pallbearers will be Joshua Marshall, Ryan Marshall, Justin Bates, Corey Brady, Enoch George, and Ashley Brown. Honorary pallbearers will be members of 473rd Battalion Tennessee National Guard, Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19, Sons of the Confederacy, members of American Red Cross, Sterling Marlin, and Steve Konz.