GORDON A. BATES

COVENTRY- Gordon A. Bates, 74, of Coventry, passed away on Saturday, December 4, 2021, at his home, surrounded by his dear family.

Born on August 16, 1947, in Providence, he was one of five children born to the late Edward H. and Ruth (Stafford) Bates. Gordon grew up in West Warwick and at one time held the home run record for West Warwick Little League Baseball. He was a member of the last graduating Class from Deering High School in 1965.

A proud and patriotic man, Gordon was a veteran of the United States Air Force, serving during the Vietnam Era. Over his years of service in the military, he achieved the rank of Sgt., and he received the National Defense Service Medal and Air Force Medal.

With the skillset he received from his service in the Air Force, Gordon was working with simulators in the 1960’s. By the 1980’s he turned his engineering knowledge into Broadcast Video System Sales. He eventually became a Manufacturer Rep., representing many companies over the world in the United States. Gordon well deservedly retired in 2018 as the Owner and Manager of the Bates Group.

In his spare time, Gordon enjoyed cooking and watching food shows. He was an avid New England Sports fan with his favorite teams being the New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox. He liked to have house plants throughout his home, and he took such great care of them, he was known as the “House Plant Whisperer.” Above all, Gordon treasured the time spent and memories made with his dear family, especially his grandchildren, who were truly the apple of his eye.

Gordon is survived by his proud children: Kelly (Bates) Riley and her husband Michael, Keith Bates and his wife Jenn, and Kristopher Bates and his wife Amanda; his adoring seven grandchildren; brother: Dale Bates; sister: Cathy Mathews; countless nieces and nephews; and his beloved pet cat, Paul.

Gordon’s Words of Remembrance Service will be Thursday, December 9, 2021 at 12:30 PM, at the Iannotti Funeral Home 415 Washington St., (Rt.117) Coventry. Burial with Military Funeral Honors at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Exeter.

​Visiting Hours will be on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 from 4-7 PM at the funeral home. 

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