Obituary - Emma Ruth (Hobbs) Bates
Emma "Ruth" Hobbs Bates, 89, a Powhattan native, died Sunday, June 10,
2012, at Avalon Care Center in Modesto, California. Ruth was born November
10, 1922, in Brown County, to Warren and Grovia (Moore) Hobbs. She grew up
at Powhattan where she attended school, later graduating from high school
there. She worked as a waitress in restaurants and cafes' in California for
38 years before retiring.
She married LeRoy Frank Bates on June 19, 1941. They lived in Powhattan a
few years before moving to California in 1950. They retired in 1981 and
moved to Tularosa, NM a few years and raised horses. They bought a travel
trailer, traveled the entire United States, making 3 trips to Alaska. They
wintered a number of years in Texas. LeRoy died May 6, 2000.
Survivors include sons: Warren (Michelle) Bates of Modesto, LeRoy, Jr.
(Sandra) Bates of Waterford, CA, and a daughter MaryAnn Cathcart of Fremont,
CA. She is survived by one brother Walter Clyde (Jeri) Hobbs, Hood River, OR
and one sister Anna Marie Hobbs (Abe) Corley of Kansas City, MO; 9
grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her
parents, sisters: Elizabeth Filley, Geneva Hobbs, Edith Johnson and
brothers: Ray Hobbs and Paul Hobbs.
The family will receive friends at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha from
10 until 11 Saturday morning, June 16, to go in procession to Powhattan
Cemetery for graveside services. Reverend Priscilla Davies, of the Powhattan
Methodist Church, will officiate.
Memorial contributions are suggested to American Cancer Society which may be
sent in care of the funeral home, 124 S 7th St., Hiawatha 66434.