Richard Lee Cates

Richard Lee Cates, 74, of Stafford County died Monday evening, Feb. 2, 2015, at Mary Washington Hospital. He was the husband of Kyoko Cates. Born in Battle Creek, Mich., on March 29, 1940, he was the son of Auvie and Eleanor Black Cates of Battle Creek. Richard was retired but always liked to keep himself busy. He was a Navy veteran with 21 years of service. He retired as a chief petty officer with the Aviation Structured Mechanic Fleet Reserve, stationed with HM–16 NAS out of Norfolk. He served his country in Vietnam. After he retired from the military in 1981, he continued to serve his community as the maintenance director of Woodmont Nursing Home, then as a volunteer at Stafford Hospital and Rappahannock Area Hospice. He had a love of fixing and restoring cars, including a 1952 Packard. He was a member of the Packard Club of Northern Virginia. He also loved the open seas, fishing and restoring boats. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Michelle Cates and husband Robert Thatcher of Spotsylvania County; their three daughters, Marisa, Meghan and Maxine; two grandsons, Joshua Cates of Norwood, Pa., and Jackson Cates of Appomattox; brother Thomas Cates of New Kensington, Pa.; and mother-in-law Yoshiko Higa of Japan. He was preceded in death by his parents; and son Franklin Scott Cates. A service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at Mullins and Thompson Funeral Service, 1621 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Fredericksburg, VA 22401. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in Stafford Memorial Park. Online condolences may be sent at mullinsthompsonstafford.com