Gordon Bates, Sr

Mr. Gordon W. Bates, Sr., age 78, of Hoover, AL, formerly of Huntsville, passed away July 26, 2011. He was a retired civilian U.S. Army, served in the U. S. Marine Corp and was a NASA flight engineer on the Saturn Program. He loved boating, camping and was a loving Christian, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He attended the Church of the Highlands. He is survived by his wife, of 58 years, Clintelle Bates, one son, G. Wright Bates, Jr. (Kim), two daughters, Kimberly Chambers (Richard), and Gwen Bates Gardner (Scott), two brothers, John Bates, II, and Richard Bates, one sister, Loraine Bilafer, five grandchildren, Natalie McElwee, Christina Morton, Allison Chambers, Josh Bates, and Rachel Bates, two great grandchildren, Kennedy McElwee and Mackenzie McElwee, and many nieces, nephews, and friends. The family will receive friends from 5:30-7 PM Thursday, July 28, 2011, at Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home and Friday from 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM. Services will be Friday, July 29, 2011, at 12:30 PM at the funeral Home. Interment will follow at the Alabama National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the Marines Toys for Tots Foundation