William F. "Red" Bates

William F. “Red” Bates, age 93 of Ranger, passed away on Monday, November 9, 2015 at his residence. Red was born on October 28, 1922 in Gordon County, to the late John Wesley Bates and Maude Nipper Bates. He was a member of Fairview Church of God and served over 21 years in the United States Army. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Reeta Roper Bates; son, Larry McEver; three brothers, J.C. Bates, Andrew Bates and James Bates; and two sisters, Eva Mae Watson and Pauline Shope. He is survived by his daughter, Linda Whittenburg of Calhoun; four grandchildren, Larriann Dixon and her husband Larry, Hoyt Whittenburg, Lynn Whittenburg and Jennifer Whittenburg; four great-grandchildren, Brittany Worley and her husband Eric, Brooke Dixon, Grace Whittenburg and Will Whittenburg; two great-great-grandchildren, Anna Worley and Beckett Worley; and his two caregivers, Diane Reed and Monica Ramsey. Funeral Services will be conducted on Wednesday, November 11th at 1:00 PM from the Chapel of Thomas Funeral Home with the Reverend Terry Jones officiating. Interment will follow in Pleasant Grove (RYO) Cemetery with full military honors accorded by the United States Army. Pallbearers serving will be Larry Dixon, Eric Worley, Hoyt Whittenburg, Scott Parmiter, Jim Bates and Lamar Whittenburg. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 11:00 AM until the funeral hour at 1:00 PM at Thomas Funeral Home. You may leave the family online condolences at www.thomasfuneralhomecalhoun.com Thomas Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for William F. “Red” Bates.