Donald Bates

Donald C. Bates, 95, of Galva, died Thursday, January 14, 2021, at Galesburg Cottage Hospital.  A private graveside committal service was held on Tuesday, January 19th, at Galva Cemetery.  There will be no public services.  Stackhouse-Moore Funeral & Cremation Services, Galva, is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Donald Calvin Bates was born November 18, 1925 in Kewanee, the son of Edwin and Feryl Swearingen Bates.  He was educated in Sheffield schools.  His marriage to Marian E. Yarger took place on August 8, 1948 in Kewanee.  Don farmed for 35 years with his reliable Minneapolis-Moline tractors.  He also operated the Bates Feed Service for 20 years.  Don enjoyed playing his fiddle and was a great lover of County and Cajun music.  He played his fiddle in the Jesse Copple and BobWitte Band and on occasion sat in with the Marvin Miles Band of Galesburg.

Those surviving are his wife, Marian, a daughter, Eileen Neuhalfen, Galva, four sons, Donald E. Bates, Elizabethton, TN, Leslie and Gary Bates, Galva, and James Bates, Phenix City, AL.  Other survivors include 11 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and a great great grandchild.  His parents, four brothers, Earl, Dewey, Lloyd, and Elwyn, a sister, Lois, a daughter, Janice Baysinger, two grandchildren, Michael Mitro and Levi Baysinger, preceded him in death.