Patrick "Pat" Walter Bates

Services for Patrick Walter Bates, 82, of Roff are 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 13 at Criswell Funeral Home Chapel, Ada, OK. Rev. Earl Hood will officiate. The family will gather prior to the service from 11:00-1:00 with friends and family at the Marie Bailey building at 1200 Jack John Circle in Ada, Oklahoma.

Pat was born March 17, 1937 to Cleo and Lawrence Bates in Detroit, Michigan. He departed this life on July 3, 2019 at his home with his beloved family by his side.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Cleo and Lawrence Bates; two brothers, Larry Bates and Edward Bates; and a sister, Joan Mitchell.

In 1957, he met the love of his life, Eleanor Fay Kee and they married in 1958 in Drayton Plains, Michigan. They later relocated to Roff, Oklahoma in 1972 where they raised their children and worked on the family farm.

Much of Patrick's working years were spent serving his country in the Army National Guard. He enlisted in 1955 at the age of 18.  He loved his country and was faithfully employed as full-time Civil Service with the Army National Guard and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer IV in 1997.

Pat's life will always be remembered and cherished by his loving wife of 61 years, Eleanor Bates Roff, OK; daughter, Patricia Sorrels and Randy Robinson of Durant, OK; son, David Bates and wife, Jan Bates of Roff, OK. He is survived by a sister, Helen Agar.  He is also survived by his grandchildren; Logan Sorrels of Durant, OK; Jessica Glenn and husband, Aaron Glenn of Kingston, OK; Tracy Bryant and husband, Andrew Bryant of Ada, OK; Patrick Scott Bates and fiancé, Rayni Maxey of Roff, OK; Chad Whittington of Stratford, OK.  He has 7 great grandchildren.