Darold Joe Bates' Obituary
Darold Joe Bates of Fort Myers, Florida, passed away Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at Gulf Coast Medical Center, Fort Myers, Florida after some recent health challenges. He was 79. Darold was born December 19, 1936 in Lake Odessa, Michigan to the late Floyd and Hildreth Bates. He was an independent contractor working on new construction, remodeling and rehabilitation projects. Darold was a veteran of the United States Navy. He was a longtime member of the Nazarene Church and a dedicated member of the Fort Myers First Church of the Nazarene. He was a beloved husband, devoted father, loving grandfather and great grandfather who will be dearly missed. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister, Marjorie Kimmel and his brother, Donald Bates. He is survived by his loving wife of 60+ years, Marian Bates; their two children, Douglas (Jan) Bates of Fort Myers, Florida and Dawn (Tim) McCandless of Elkhart, Indiana. He is also survived by his fourteen grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. His family will receive friends and guests beginning at 2:30PM followed by a Celebration of Darold’s Life at 3:00PM, Sunday, October 2, 2016 at the Fort Myers First Church of the Nazarene 13545 American Colony Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida 33912. The Celebration of Life will also be streamed live at www.fortmyersnazarene.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials in his honor are suggested to the Christian Medical Ministries c/o Fort Myers First Church of the Nazarene 13545 American Colony Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida 33912. The Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home is serving the family. Online condolences and memories may be shared on his tribute page at www.fortmyersmemorial.com
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