Bates, Donald R., 85, June 18, 2013. Interment to be held in the Hodgdon Cemetery. Arrangements by Dunn Funeral Home, Houlton.
HODGDON – Donald R. Bates, 85, was reunited with his wife of 50 years in Heaven with their Lord on June 18, 2013, after a year-long battle with cancer. He was born on October 6, 1927 in Linneus, Maine, the son of the late J. Gordon and Adelaide (Webster) Bates.
Donald graduated from Houlton High School in the class of 1945. He was a veteran of World War II. Donald graduated from Aviation Fundamental School and also Air Traffic Control Tower Operator School at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida. He served the rest of his service time as an Air Traffic Control Tower Operator for the U.S. Navy. He received a Good Conduct Medal and World War II Victory medal.
On January 17, 1953 Donald married his best friend and love of his life, Nola Stilwell.
He farmed with his father, raising Arabian horses in Linneus. Later, he worked for Petroleum Products. He spent the next 30 years employed at the Houlton Post Office where he received the Special Postal People award for outstanding performance, above and beyond the call of duty.
Donald was an active member of the Hodgdon United Methodist Church where he served in several capacities. He was a life member of the Houlton Monument Lodge 96 AF & AM.
Donald enjoyed cross country skiing well into his 80s and was a master woodworker with an eye for detail. He created numerous items for his family, friends, and his church and was always up for a challenge. He also looked forward to his cardiac rehab classes with his friends and the staff at Houlton Regional Hospital. He loved spending time with his family whom he loved very much. Everyone who met him always commented on what a kind, sweet and gentle person he was, who always put others before himself. He was a living testament of how to treat others and live an honest and Godly life. All those who were blessed to know him were better because of it.
Donald will be sadly missed by his daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Paul Steward of Hodgdon, and his son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Misty Bates of Nashua, N.H. His three adoring granddaughters and two grandsons-in-laws, Amber and Chris Brown of Gray, ME, Sarah and Brent Estabrook of Linneus, and Riley Bates of Nashua, N.H., will greatly miss their Papa’s kind spirit and wonderful sense of humor. Donald’s three great-grandchildren, Alisha and Zachary Brown of Gray, and Charlotte Estabrook of Linneus, were blessed to have had him as a Great Pap and will delight in listening to his life stories for years to come. He will also be missed by his sisters, Madeline Adams and Leta Adams, both of Linneus, as well as many nieces and nephews. Donald was reunited with sisters Delicia Kenny, Maxine Bither, and Glenice Vachon, and brothers Gordon and George Bates.
Friends were invited to visit with the family at the Dunn Funeral Home Saturday from 10 a.m. until service time at 12 noon with Rev. Marilyn Rohdin officiating. Interment was in the Hodgdon Cemetery. Friends may make gifts in Donald’s memory to the Hodgdon United Methodist Church or the Houlton Humane Society, c/o Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park Street, Houlton ME 04730. Online guest book and condolences at: dunn funeral.com.
