Florence L. Bates

Florence L. Bates, 82 of Streator passed away Sunday morning (August 28^th) at Pleasant View Luther Home, Ottawa.

A visitation will be held Tuesday from 5 – 7 PM at the Winterrowd Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 11 AM at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church with the Rev. William Callister officiating.  Burial will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park.  Serving as pallbearers will be sons-in-law, Jerry Deavers , Kenny Wheeler and Scott Peterson, grandsons, Christopher Anderson, Jeremy Sneath and Jason Wallace andSteve Haynes and Kenny Bettner.  Honorary will be son-in-law Melvin Wallace.

Florence was born on July 27, 1934 in Flanagan to Tjark and Emma (Koopman) Rients.  She married Raymond H. Bates on June 28, 1953.  He preceded her in death on September 10, 1993.

Surviving are daughters, Deborah (Melvin) Wallace of Ottawa, Joyce Rae Bates of Polo, IL, Denise (Scott) Peterson of Madison, WI, Karen (Jerry) Deavers of Mitchell, IN and Rebecca (Kenny) Wheeler of S. Wilmington, IL, 12 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren and a sister Velma Bates of Grand Ridge.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, grandson Robert Courtney Bates, brothers, Vernon and Lester Rients and a sister Margerine Decker.

Florence graduated from the Flanagan High School, played the drums in the high school band, attended ISU and received a degree at IVCC.  She was a member of the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and the O.W.L.S (church card group).  Florence was employed at the original Steak and Shake in Bloomington while attending ISU, employed for many years at the Hornsby Store until 1985 and retired from Streator Home/Building and Loan Association in April of 2010.  She enjoyed traveling to many places including Branson, MO, Wisconsin Dells and Cancun.

Memorials may be made in her name to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.