Richard Dale Bates

Richard Dale Bates, beloved husband, father and grandpa, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, passed away on August 26th, shortly after celebrating his 89th birthday. He was born August 3, 1929 in Mishawaka, Indiana, the son of Cyril and Mae Bates. He was married sixty-three years to “the best girlfriend a guy could ever have”, Bonnie Bates. Richard was a scientist engineer who spent much of his career in the aerospace industry where he enjoyed his work inventing and designing leading edge electronic and communication systems, including a lunar receiver that enabled communications between the moon rover and ground control during the Apollo moon landings. The receiver remains on the moon.

He and Bonnie enjoyed raising three sons: Larry (Katherine) of Ann Arbor, David (Ruth) of Fayetteville, NY, and Douglas (Kristin) of Ocean Springs, MS. They felt blessed when spending time and being a part of their grandchildren’s lives: Jessica (Dusten), Claire, Cameron (Beth), Benjamin (Ahra), Kathleen, Michael, and Elizabeth.

Richard graduated from the Electrical Engineering School of Tri-State University in Angola, Indiana where he also earned his private pilot’s license and began his life-long adventure with flying. In his later years, he and Bonnie enjoyed adventuring around the country in their motor home to visit family and friends.

He loved life and meeting and talking with people. He was always ready to lend a helping hand to build or fix something. A humble man, you’d have to ask him to get him to tell you about the house he built with only hand tools outside of Niagara Falls, NY, or the backyard swimming pool he dug by hand for his kids and their friends, or the several patents he received. A man of faith, he was part of the community at the First Baptist Church of Ann Arbor nearly sixty years.

He will be missed by his family and friends.

A celebration of his life will be held at the First Baptist Church at 517 E. Washington Street, Ann Arbor on Saturday, November 24th at 11am. A light luncheon will follow in the Fellowship Hall. Memorial contributions can be made to the Salvation Army or the First Baptist Church.