Ralph Lendel Bates age 85 of Athens passed away Wednesday at Athens Limestone Hospital. Mr. Bates was born March 23, 1940 in Limestone County. He was retired from Redstone Arsenal as an electrician. He is survived by his life partner & love of his life, Pat Shelton. Daughters, Paige (Kenny) Crouch. Tracy (Jim) Pettie. Rhonda (Deryl) Metze and Lisa Ford. Grandchildren, Dagan (Lauren) Crouch. Braden (Ashley) Crouch. Avery Pettie. Emery Pettie, Josh (Dawn) Maddox. Heather (Seth) Shelby and Reagan Mathes. Great Grandchildren, Laila Crouch, Anthony Spires, Peyton Maddox and Forester Shelby. He was preceded in death by his Parents, Luther P. Bates and Wyllodine Bates. Services will be 11 am Saturday in the chapel of Spry Funeral Home with Gary Cosby officiating. Burial to follow at Wallace Cemetery in Rogersville. Visitation will be Saturday from 10 am until service time at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be, Kenny Crouch, Jim Pettie, Dagan Crouch, Braden Crouch, Deryl Metze, Johnny Bates, Josh Maddox and Wade Patterson.
