Bobby Wayne Cates, age 73, husband of Debbie Beasley Cates, and a resident of Columbia, passed away on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at his residence.
A funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM on Monday, May 20, 2024, at Heritage Funeral Home with Ricky and Terry Lemay officiating and with military honors provided by American Legion Post 19. Following the service, he will be laid to rest in Polk Memorial Gardens. A visitation will also be held on Monday from 12:00 PM until 3:00 PM at the funeral home. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
A native of Columbia, Bobby was born on May 17, 1950, and was the son of the late Dewey M. Cates and the late Lillie May Baker Cates. Bobby was a United States Army Veteran, serving as a medical foreman during the Vietnam War, where he was wounded twice during his service time. Of special note, Bobby wrote the following poems while serving during wartime; A Soldier’s Prayer, The Signal, and Peace. He shared these with his sister, Shirley, in September 1971.
Bobby had many hobbies, which included fishing, playing baseball, playing golf, and playing pool with his friends. He also found joy in camping trips and deer hunting. Bobby served as a preacher for surrounding counties for forty-six years and served as pastor at Mission’s Chapel Baptist Church for twenty-two years.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Angel Renee Vanover of Columbia.
Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Harold Cates, Shirley Ketchum, Dorothy Chapman, Reather Dale Cates, Gene Cates, Opal Cates, Velton Cates, and Velves Cates.
Those proudly serving as pallbearers will be Ronnie Burns, Maurice Pomeroy, Dicky Dean, Bud Potter, Tony Busby, James Busby and Pete Ridley.
The family would like to express sincere thanks and gratitude to hospice care that assisted Bobby and family during this time of need.
