Name of Deceased: Robert Lane Bates

Date of Death: March 10, 2012
Place of Death: At home in Great Bend, Kansas
Date of Birth: June 16, 1922 at Hingham, Massachusetts
Parents Name: Fred and Helen (Lane) Bates

OBITUARY INFORMATION
Mr. Bates married Phyllis Kolterman November 2, 1952, in Topeka, KS. They were later divorced.
He then married Neoma L. (Dennis) Williams November 8, 1975, in Great Bend, KS. She survives.
Mr. Bates had been a Great Bend, Kansas, resident since 1953 coming from Topeka, KS.

He was a graduate of the Boston University School of Law and was an attorney having practiced in the Great Bend area for over 60 years, and served as Probate Judge, Municipal Judge, and Assistant County Attorney. He served our country as a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps and the U.S. Air Force for about ten years including World War II and during the Korean Conflict. That service was as the Navigator of a B-17 crew and training bomber crews at Forbes Air Force Base in Kansas during the Korean Conflict. Mr. Bates was involved in the Unification of the Great Bend School District No. 1 and No. 7. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Great Bend, where he held many Church offices and led four Disciple Classes. He served as the USD 428 Board attorney for almost 30 years. He assisted with the organization of the Barton County Community College and was the Community College Board Attorney for ten years. He helped organize the USD 428 Foundation. He has been an active VFW and American Legion member. He served a term as Post Commander of the American Legion Post. He has a long history of membership in the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and served on the Board of Directors. During the Mayorship of H.C. Davis, he served on the Great Bend Arts Council.

In the early 1960’s he assisted with a reorganization of the United Way. He helped guide the development of the Barton County Mental Health Association. He also volunteered as a member of the Retired Senior Volunteers Corps. He was a long time member of the Kiwanis Club of Great Bend, in which he served as President, Board of Directors, District Lt. Governor, on many committees, and was the recipient of the club sponsored “Making Great Bend Greater” award. He was an avid K.U. Jayhawks and Boston Red Sox fan, and enjoyed golf.

Wife: Neoma Bates, of the home
Two sons: James Robert Bates and wife Jennifer of Denver, CO
Dennis Lane Bates and wife Lisa of Lincoln, NE
One step son: Darren Williams of Great Bend, KS
One daughter: Michele “Shelley” Bates of Great Bend, KS
One step daughter: Lisa Williams Thompson and husband Walter of Olathe, KS
One brother: William Bates and wife Ella of Dover, DE
Six Grandchildren: Jaxon Bates, Emma Thompson, Breanna Schartz, Brady Williams, Kori Birzer, and Brittney Birzer

SERVICE INFORMATION
Memorial Service: Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Time of Service: 11:00 am
Place of Service: Trinity United Methodist Church in Great Bend
Officiant: Rev. Jeff Slater and Chaplain Ron Moser
Inurnment: Ft. Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, Kansas, with military honors conducted by the United States Air Force, at a later date
Visitation: 9 am until 8 pm, Monday, March 12, 2012, with the family present from 6 pm until 8 pm at Bryant Funeral Home

Memorial Fund: Trinity United Methodist Church, in care of Bryant Funeral Home

Age: 89

SURVIVORS

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net
Arrangements by Bryant Funeral Home
1425 Patton Road Great Bend, Kansas 67530