Jack H. Bates, 92, of Decatur, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, teacher, and friend, passed away Wednesday, March 8, 2017. Born April 15, 1924, in Searsport, Maine, he was raised by his mother, Hilda Bates Cook, and his grandparents, Sadie and Frank Clark, in Presque Isle, Maine. Jack was drafted at the age of 17 and a half to the U.S. Army where he served as President Eisenhower's secretary until the end of WWII.
After WWII, Jack enrolled in teaching college where he met and married his wife, Hazel. Jack continued his education obtaining his Bachelor's, Master's of Education, another Master's in Business Administration and a PhD in Educational Psychology which was the start of a long educational career as a professor until retiring at the age of 88. In addition to his career, Jack volunteered at Aids Atlanta, Jerusalem House, and Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Jack was an active and devoted member of Decatur First United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his daughter, Kathryn Blair; granddaughter, LoriBeth Blair and her husband, Drew; his beloved sister, Helen Gardiner; his church family at Decatur First United Methodist; and many more loving family and friends.
Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel Margaret Page Bates; brother, Wendell Bates; aunt, Lana Melton; mother, Hilda Bates Cook; grandmother, Sadie Clark; and son-in-law, Steve "Man-Mountain" Blair.
Join the family for a potluck gathering around 1 p.m. with a celebration of Jack's life at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 12, at Decatur First United Methodist Church, Decatur, GA.
Feel free to leave the family your condolences via the guestbook provided.
Funeral Home:
A. S. Turner & Sons
2773 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Starts at 2:00 pm (Eastern time)
Decatur First United Methodist Church
Visits: 7
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