William Edward “”Ed”” Bates, 74, son of Virgil and Mary Thompson Bates, was born Oct. 11, 1927, at Oscar. He died June 5, 2002, at his home after a long illness. He grew up and lived in the Oscar and Licking area most of his life. He served in the U.S. Army from March until December 1946, which was at the end of World War II. He received the Victory Medal. Mr. Bates was a machinist and loved flowers, especially watching them grow. He enjoyed family gatherings. He was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, Charles L. Bates. Surviving are five brothers, Robert W. Bates, Wayne H. Bates and Gary Gene Bates of Licking, Roy Dean Bates of Rosemont, Ill., and Ray Bates of Glendale Heights, Ill.; four sisters, Edna Smith and Virginia Rieder of Licking, Marie York of Plato and Louise Walker of Safford, Ariz. Services were June 8 at the Evans Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Billy Walker officiating. Burial was in the Ellis Prairie Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home of Houston. “
