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IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Kenneth "Ken"
L. Bates
October 17, 1926 – August 31, 2017
Obituary
Kenneth L. Bates, 90, passed away on August 31, 2017, at his long-time home in Stockton, Kansas, surrounded by his beloved wife Maxine L. Bates (Greene) and his daughter Deanne (Dee) Wicks of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and his son Bradford (Brad) Bates of Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Ken was born on October 17, 1926, in Fairfield, Iowa, the second son of Victor Dallas Bates and Marie Ethel (Rodgers) Bates. During most of his childhood, his family endured the poverty and hardships of the Great Depression, as did many families of his generation. Despite the hardships, Ken received love and support from his parents and nearby grandparents. During his youth, Ken developed a love of music that can be traced to his mother who enjoyed music and played piano every day, including at the local Methodist church.
While attending Fairfield High School, Ken played football, managed several jobs to help his family pay the bills, and found time to further his love of big band swing music and jitterbug dancing. Upon graduation from Fairfield High, he joined the U.S. Navy where he served from 1944 to 1946 when he was honorably discharged.
After discharge from the Navy Ken returned to his hometown and enrolled in Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa. He was offered work in the local J.C. Penney store where he had worked part-time while in high school. He attended College during most days of the week and worked at the Penney store most of the other time, moving up to salesperson with a particular knack for selling shoes.
At the Penney store Ken met a beautiful young girl named Maxine Greene. Ken and Maxine were married on September 5,1948. It proved to be a marriage made in heaven, lasting nearly 69 years until Ken's death.
While in Fairfield, Ken and Maxine had their two children: Brad and Dee. Ken threw himself into his work at Penney's and he met with success. In 1954 he was promoted to an assistant manager position of the Penney store in Emporia, Kansas. In Emporia, Ken continued to excel in generating sales and also learned about overall operations. By 1958, he was offered the general manager position of the store in Stockton, Kansas.
The family soon became active members of the Stockton community and the United Methodist Church. In 1967, Penney's decided to close the store as part of its store consolidation campaign, and Ken was offered a position in another community. It was time for a huge decision. He loved the Stockton community and the family had made roots. He decided to buy the fixtures from Penney's and try to open a family-run store that would offer the type of merchandise similar to Penney's. He called the store Bates of Stockton and promoted it as offering "Quality with Service." It was truly a family business with Maxine, Brad and Dee all doing their share, under Ken's leadership.
Ken became a major participant in the town's business community. He was a member of the Rotary Club for 28 years, serving at various times as Secretary, Vice President, President and International Scholarship chairman. He vigorously developed and chaired town-wide special retail events. In 1964, he helped initiate the first Athletic Banquet to celebrate the achievement of the town's high school athletes. He also served as President of the Stockton Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Corwin Company Board of Directors. All the time, his wife Maxine was at his side with support, encouragement and charm and providing her own contributions to the well-being of the community. The contributions of Ken and Maxine were recognized and honored by the town in May this year when they were named Grand Marshalls of the town's Inaugural Peony Festival.
Ken was predeceased by both of his parents in 1954 and his brother Rodger Bates in 1994. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Maxine; his two children Brad (Kim) Bates, Chevy Chase, Md and Dee Wicks, Council Bluffs, Iowa; his four grandchildren Tyson Wicks and Kale (Brandy) Wicks of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Kira Bates of Washington, D.C., and Brittany (Bates) (Brandon) Watts of San Francisco, California; and his two great granddaughters Kansas Wicks and Kendric Wicks of Council Bluffs.
A celebration of life memorial service will be at the Methodist Church in Stockton, Saturday, Sept 30th at 11:00. A visitation and reception with a luncheon will be held immediately after services in the church fellowship hall.
A celebration of life memorial service will be at the Methodist Church in Stockton, Saturday, Sept 30th at 11:00. A visitation and reception with a luncheon will be held immediately after services in the church fellowship hall.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, memorial contributions may be made to Ken Bates Memorial Fund. They will be divided between the Methodist Women's Association and a Stockton School project that will be announced upon the school board's approval.
Family requests memorials be addressed to "Ken Bates Memorial Fund" in care of Maxine Bates, 3 Hillcrest Dr., Stockton, KS 67669.
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Services
Memorial Service
September
30
United Methodist Church - Stockton
Starts at 11:00 am
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