Rev. Eugene F. Bates

Reverend Eugene Bates, age 59, departed this earth for heaven on January 19, 2005. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 21, 2005 at Andrew United Methodist Church, Kathleen, Georgia with interment following at 2:00 p.m. at Andersonville National Cemetery, Andersonville, Georgia with full military honors. Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 20 at McCullough Funeral Home.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, November 21, 1945, Rev. Bates attended Westport High School and the University of Missouri, Columbia where he obtained a degree in Chemistry in 1967. He is preceded in death by his grandmother, Ruth Sanford Sills, his mother, Helen May Sills Bates, and his father, Ronald Allen Bates. After working in the University of Missouri Medical Center as a Research Chemist in Hematology, Rev. Bates entered the USAF and became a decorated combat aviator serving in Vietnam where he flew nearly 200 combat missions in the RF4-C aircraft. Over the next 20 years, Bates flew in multiple fighter aircraft, became an instructor pilot in the T-38 and A-10 aircraft and received the following medals for heroism and valor: The Legion of Merit; Distinguished Flying Cross (2); Combat Air Medal (11); Meritorious Service Medal (4); USAF Commendation Medal (2); USAF Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device; Distinguished Presidential Unit Citation (2); Combat Readiness Medal; USAF Recognition Ribbon; USAF Overseas Short and Long Ribbons; USAF Longevity Service with Oak Leaf Clusters; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Device; Republic of Vietnam Service Campaign Medal; Small Arms Markmanship Ribbon; and the Airman’s Medal for Heroism. Before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in the USAF, Rev. Bates completed his first graduate degree in Human Relations at the University of Oklahoma. While still on active duty, Gene received the call into full time Christian ministry and began his seminary graduate work at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1988, Bates returned to Warner Robins, Georgia and completed his Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia and was an Ordained Elder in full connection with the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Rev. Bates served Manchester UMC in St. Louis, First UMC, Warner Robins, Georgia, and Andrew UMC, Kathleen, Georgia, which was a revitalized new church development mission church. Serving Andrew UMC for nearly 12 years, Bates led the church from ten members to over 500 and it became one of the fastest growing Methodist Churches in the conference. He was honored by the Annual Conference for his efforts with the Harry Denman Evangelism Award, and the South Georgia Golden Hammer Missions Award. Bates had completed the basic and advanced Billy Graham Schools of Evangelism as well as the Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies in Jerusalem, Israel. Gene and his wife, Kay, lead numerous overseas missions to Belize, Costa Rica, Central America, Bolivia, South America, and both served on the Board of Directors of the Kenya Methodist University Development Association (KEMUDA), Meru, Kenya, East Africa. Gene served as CEO of KEMUDA for two years and was the CEO during the first graduating class of 2000. This new Methodist University is now a hallmark of higher education in all of Africa, offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees and is working on building a new medical school and teaching hospital in Maua, where Gene led his first medical mission team in 1991.

During Gene’s two callings/careers, he had the wonderful experience of traveling and living in a few of the over 60 nations around the world. Kay and Gene were blessed by leading tours and traveling the Middle East on five occasions to Israel, Jordan and Egypt. Together they loved to travel, to meet all of God’s children and share in his commission to “Go Ye Therefore, into all the world… (Matthew 28:19)”.

Rev. Bates also was very active in his community serving for many years as head volunteer Chaplain of the Houston Medical Center; President of the Warner Robins area Ministerial Association; Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Kids Journey, Inc., a county collaborative for children and families in need; the Homeless Shelter Board of Directors; member of the Houston County YMCA Board of Directors; co-founder of the Soup Kitchen, an outreach hot meal mission of First UMC, Warner Robins; co-founder of the Houston County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity, now having completed 24 homes; founder and past President of Chapter 152, Mended Hearts, an international support group for patients and families of heart surgery. Lt.Colonel Bates was a life member of Daedalian, an International Fraternity of Military Pilots, the Military Order of World Wars, and the National Eagle Scout Association. He was also a life member of the Disabled American Veteran’s Association.

Reverend Bates is survived by his dedicated and loving wife of 31 years, Amanda Catherine Perritt (Kay) Bates, Kathleen; a son, Andrew A. Bates, Telluride, Colorado; daughters, Kristen Ruth Bates Honaker (John), Warner Robins, Sarah Elizabeth Bates (Derek Addison), Athens, Georgia , and Catherine Amanda Bates, Atlanta, Georgia; granddaughter, Katherine Morgan Honaker; brother, Richard Bates, Corpus Christi and sister Bette Bates, Austin, TX.

The family requests no flowers. Donations are suggested to either the Kay and Gene Bates Volunteer in Mission (VIM) Endowment Fund or the Bill and Genie Evans Memorial Scholarship Fund for Ministerial students, both c/o Andrew UMC, 2430 Hwy 127, Kathleen, Georgia 31047.

It can be simply said that Gene Bates served his God and his country in his generation.

Go to www.mcculloughfh.com to sign Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.


Funeral Home:
McCullough Funeral Home
417 S. Houston Lake Rd.
Warner Robins, GA
US 31088