Larry Earl Bates

Larry Earl Bates, 90, of Green Cove Springs, FL passed away August 1, 2015. He was born on August 29, 1924 in Camden, TN to the late Orian Leo and Hettie (Odle) Bates. Larry retired from the United States Air Force after serving in the Pacific during WWII and in Korea as a radio operator doing morse code. Before retiring permanently, Larry worked in the Foreign Service Branch for the State Department in Paris, France; Luanda, Angola where he met his wife; Hong Kong, China where his daughter was born; Panama City, Panama; Moscow, Russia; Brussels, Belgium where he was attached to N.A.T.O.; Washington, D.C.; Bern, Switzerland; Sinai Field Mission, Egypt; and Cairo, Egypt. He enjoyed baseball, golf and bowling. Larry was a loving husband and father. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, William Bates and sister, Talmadge Goodwin. Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Mary V. Bates; daughter, Shelly A. Bates of Green Cove Springs, FL; brother, Wayne Bates of Collierville, TN; sisters, Betty Jean Jones of Cordova, TN and Carolyn Shaw of Elgin, OK and numerous nieces and nephews. Inurnment with full military honors will take place on Thursday, August 13, 2015 at 1:30pm at Jacksonville National Cemetery. Cremation arrangements under the care of Broadus-Raines Funeral Home, 501 Spring Street, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043, 904-284-4000.