Robert Spring Bateman

Bateman, Robert SpringRobert Spring Bateman passed away on June 3, 2015 in his hometown of Mobile, Alabama. He was preceded in death by his father, J. W. Bateman, Sr., and mother, Bertha Spring Bateman, sister, Elizabeth Bateman White, brother, James A. Bateman, and brother Dr. J. W. Bateman. He is survived by his nieces, Charlotte (Johnny) Harbour, Diane (Bill) Smith, Joan Fleming and Karen (Tim) Thigpen, sister-in-law Carolyn Bateman, and numerous great nieces and nephews. Robert Bateman grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he attended public schools, starting with Dufrocq Elementary and concluding with Baton Rouge High School class of 1947.  He attended LSU where he completed his B.S. degree in 1952 and his Master of Landscape Architecture in 1956.  While at LSU, he was a member of the ROTC and served on the Pershing Rifle Drill Team.  Mr. Bateman served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force for two years and continued his service in the Air Force Reserve until his retirement in 1975 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Robert started his landscape architecture career as a city planning consultant with the Alabama State Planning Agency in Montgomery. In 1959, he moved to Mobile and opened a consulting firm, Robert S. Bateman and Associates. Within ten years, the firm grew to ten employees with a wide variety of projects throughout the Southeast including landscape architecture, city planning, urban renewal, campus planning, golf courses and traffic engineering. Robert was a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and the National Registration Board of Landscape Architects.  He was on the board of directors for the American Society of Consulting Planners and the American Institute of Planners. Robert was appointed by the Mayor of Mobile to the Beautification Board of Mobile and the original Mobile County Planning Board. In 1973, Robert sold his consulting firm to the employees. He then established another firm, Environment Incorporated.  This firm was primarily involved in landscape design and construction. In 1985, Robert established The Garden Center, the largest retail nursery in west Mobile. In 1998, he closed The Garden Center and started Palms Unlimited of the Gulf Coast, a firm still operating and flourishing as one of the largest wholesale growers of decorative palms in the Southeast. Robert was a consummate proponent of the American free enterprise system which had given him the opportunity, with time and persistence, to rise to a high level of success.  He had a sincere interest in people leaving a lasting impact on all those he touched.  He never met a stranger only a future friend. Visitation for Robert S. Bateman will be held at Radney Funeral Home in Mobile, Alabama on Thursday June 11, 2015 from 2:00-4:00pm with a service at 4:00pm. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday, June 13, 2015 at Roselawn Memorial Park in Baton Rouge under the direction of Rabenhorst Funeral Home East. Honorary Pallbearers are Jason White, Marty Nall, Earl Dyson, Kay Dyson, Wylie Northcutt and Diane Northcutt.