William "Bill" R. Bates, Jr.

William “Bill” R. Bates, Jr., age 75, of Waynesburg, passed away Monday, June 12, 2023, at Washington Hospital.

Born September 20, 1947, in Waynesburg, son of the late William R. and Sarah (Snyder) Bates, Sr.

Bill was a Greene County resident his whole life. He graduated from Jefferson-Morgan High School in 1966. Bill served in the United States Marine Corp. during the Vietnam War. He was employed as a mechanic for the Army Core of Engineers for 28 years until his retirement in 2011. Bill was happily married for 42 years to Darlene Kay Bates until her passing on June 3, 2017. He was a leader in the 4-H for many years. Bill enjoyed hunting, fishing, watching horse racing, and the Steelers.

He is survived by three children, William R. (Hannah) Bates, III, of SC, Chuck (Michelle) Dean, of Jefferson, and Michael (Erin Stoll) Bates, of Waynesburg; seven grandchildren, Theo, Brant, Noah, and Maggie Bates, Dustin, Chelsea, and Ike Dean; four great grandchildren; three siblings, Barbara (Bill) Ankrom, of Jefferson, Bob (Pat) Bates, of Jefferson, and Patti (Hubert) Ross, of Wind Ridge.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by three siblings, Gerald and Kenneth Bates, and a sister in infancy.

Friends will be received on Friday, June 16, 2023, from 11-1 PM at Kesterson-Rush Funeral Home, LLC. 3275 W. Roy Furman Hwy. Rogersville, PA 15359. Telephone: 724-499-5181, where the funeral will be held directly after at 1:00 PM, with Pastor Carl Leipold, officiating. Burial will be held on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 10:30 AM at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies where full military honors will be conducted by the United States Marine Corp. and the Greene County Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to PA Breast Cancer Coalition at www.pabreastcancer.org.

Please view and sign the online tribute wall at www.kestersonfh.com.