Ruth Eleanor Bates

Ruth Eleanor Bates, 98, of Mount Joy, formerly of Middletown, went home to be with her Lord & Savior, at The Gardens of West Shore, Camp Hill, on Friday January 1, 2021. She was the wife of the late Walter W. Bates who died in 1971.

Born in Middletown, she was the daughter of the late Ira and Edna (Herr) Alleman. Ruth was a homemaker while raising her children and then worked as a hostess at the Buckhorn Restaurant, Bloomsburg. Ruth was a faithful member of Bressler Bible Church, Steelton, and was a former member of Geyers United Methodist Church, Middletown. She enjoyed reading, gardening, and spending time with her family.

Surviving are six sons, Walter husband of Carol Bates, Landisburg, Gerald Bates and companion Lawanna, Jacksonville, FL, James husband of Kim Bates, Middletown, Dennis husband of Christina Bates, Greenville, SC, Joseph husband of Patty Bates, Shickshinny, Michael Bates and companion Tammy, Fort Myers, FL; three daughters, Shirley wife of Kenneth Good, Mount Joy, Beverly wife of Walter Crawford, Millersburg, Lynn wife of Tim Roh, Elizabethtown; 27 grandchildren; 49 great-grandchildren; 17 great-great-grandchildren, and two sisters Verna McDaniel, Ephrata, and Orpha Wagner, Elizabethtown. In addition to her husband and parents she was preceded in death by two sons, Barry and Robert, and a daughter Darlene Bates.

Services for Ruth will be private. Interment will be in Eberle Cemetery, Mount Joy. Please omit flowers, contributions in Ruth’s memory may be sent to Compassionate Care Hospice, 1513 Cedar Cliff Dr., Suite 100, Camp Hill, PA 17011 or Community Bible Church, 331 Anderson Ferry Road, Marietta PA 17547.