Joseph L. Bates of Endicott, NY went to be with our Lord Saturday, April 1, 2017 at Wilson Memorial Hospital. He was predeceased by his parents Bertha and Leland Bates and brothers Donald and Gerald Bates. He is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Geraldine Bates and his sons and daughters in law Larry (Marie) Bates and Gerald (Joyce) Bates. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Tina (Tom) Tammaro, Anthony (Jenine) Bates, Christopher Bates and Sundae, Danielle Bates and Gavin, Adrienne Bates and Eddie, Joseph (Lizzie) Bates, Jesse Bates and Sydney; great grandchildren, Zachary Tammaro, Angelina Bates, Noah Bates, Oakley Bates and also step great grandsons, Christopher Wright, Isaiah Oxley. Joseph is also survived by his sisters, Shirley (Harry) Gaspar, and Marjorie Mason, two brothers-in-law and four sisters-in-law and several nieces and nephews, along with his faithful companion, Mitzie. He was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Endicott, a veteran of World War II, a member of the Elk’s Lodge #1977 and American Legion Post 1700. He was a retired employee of IBM in Endicott with 33 years of service and a member of their Quarter Century Club. He enjoyed bowling, gardening, camping at Lake Timberline and square dancing but most of all loved being with his family.
Funeral services will be held Friday 11:30 am from the Allen Memorial Home, 511-513 East Main Street, Endicott followed by a Funeral Mass at 12 pm at St. Anthony of Padua Church, Endicott. Burial will be in Vestal Hills Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the Allen Memorial Home Thursday from 4-7 pm. Expressions of sympathy in Joseph’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital , 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Humane Society, 2 Jackson Street, Binghamton, NY 13903.