Columbus Bates, 85, Mechanic
Columbus "Lum" Bates, 85, of North Ridgeville and formerly of Sheffield Lake died Tuesday, August 7, 2001 at EMH Regional Medical Center, Elyria following a sudden illness.He was born January 15, 1916 in Millstone, Kentucky and moved to North Ridgeville from Sheffield Lake five years ago. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II. Columbus was employed as a mechanic with Spitzer Motors Chrysler-Plymouth in Lakewood, retiring in 1981.
Mr. Bates is survived by two sons, Billy J. Bates (Georgia) of Elyria and Jimmy D. Bates (Karen) of Westerville, OH; two daughters, Ann Pritchett of Ackworth, Georgia and Patricia Rae Daoud (Kamal) of Mooresville, North Carolina; ten grandchildren and several great grandchildren; two sisters: Polly Ann Meade of Jackson, Ohio and Rachel Berry of Corbin, Kentucky and a brother, Daniel W. Bates of Florida; and his long-time friend and companion Bessie Geyer of North Ridgeville. He was preceded in death by his wife Bonnie (nee Martin) in 1990 and his parents, Maryland D. and Mattie (nee Craft) Bates.
Friends may call at the Busch-Burmeister Family Chapel, 163 Avon-Belden Road, Avon Lake from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday, August 09, 2001. Services will be held at the funeral home on Friday, August 10th at 10:00 a.m. Pastor Lawrence E. Schreffler, Sr. Pastor of the North Ridgeville Church of God will officiate. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memory Gardens, Avon.