Robert Bates

Robert Don Bates, 66, of Odessa, Texas, passed away on October 19, 2014 in Odessa, Texas.

Visitation will be 6:00 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at Sunset Memorial and Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at Immanual Baptist Church with Larry Louks of San Antonio, Texas officiating. Burial TBD at a later date. Arrangements are by Sunset Funeral Home.

Don was born in Odessa to Byrl and Pauline Bates on July 30, 1948. In 1966 he graduated from Permian High School in Odessa, Texas and he married his one and only sweetheart, Sherry Kirby on October 23, 1966 in Odessa they would have celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary. Don graduated from the DPS Academy CSchool in Austin, Texas in 1968. After graduation his first duty assignment as a State Trooper was in Big Spring, Texas. In 1974 he was transferred to Rocksprings, Texas and in 1980 Don resigned from DPS in order to run for Sheriff of Edwards County. DPS would not allow him to keep his job while running for public office so as he began his campaign unemployed, the Rocksprings City Council appointed him Chief of Police, making him the first and only Chief of Police of Rocksprings, Texas. On January 1, 1981, Don took office as Sheriff of Edwards County and served from 1981 1988. At the end of his term, Don and his family returned to Odessa where he continued his law enforcement career as an agent for the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission. He worked for TABC for one year before accepting a position as an investigator for the County Attorneys Office. For the next 17 years his law enforcement career was served with Ector County as Chief Investigator of the County Attorneys Office and then Lieutenant with the Sheriffs Office. He retired in November 2008 with a law enforcement career expanding over 40 years.

In addition to his time as a public servant, Don was also a dedicated community volunteer, foster parent, loving husband, father and grandfather. Don spent his off hours volunteering at First Baptist Church in Rocksprings as a music director and for other various needs as they arose he was well known in the community as the see a need, fill a need guy. The most important thing in Dons life was his family and that was evident in how he used to take his son Treb out of school to go afternoon hunting or how he spearheaded efforts in fundraising for Shawna and Shellys band and class trips no matter how hectic things were at work, he always made time to watch his kids participate in their various activities. As important as Dons children were, his lifelong dedication to his wife Sherry was obvious to anyone who knew him personally. After almost five decades together, their love for each other was as strong as the day they married.

Don is preceded in death by his father Byrl Bates.

Don is survived by wife Sherry, of 47 years, their oldest daughter, Shawna Smith, husband David and their children, Colt of Odessa and Martika Williams of San Antonio, daughter Shelly Stanford and her husband Scott of Odessa and son Treb Bates, wife Jennifer and their son Mason of Fort Worth. Sister Patsy Gardner of Odessa, brother Kenneth Bates of San Antonio and sister Connie and husband Tommy Earp of Myrtle Creek, Oregon and mother Pauline Calloway.

Pallbearers will be Jay Adams of Rocksprings, Texas, Boyd Adkins of Andrews, Texas, Craig Wade of Llano, Texas, Dennis Bright of Odessa, Texas, David Bright of Odessa, Texas, Rocky Bright of Odessa, Texas, Bobby Bright of Abilene, Texas and Sam Smith of Odessa, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the West Texas Gifts of Hope Hope House, P.O. Box 891, Odessa, Texas 79760, www.wtgiftsofhope.org.

Special thanks to Dr. Kendall Wong, his staff and the Texas Oncology Odessa West Texas Cancer Center for their care and compassion during Dons treatment.

Visitation

Sunset Memorial Funeral Home
6801 E. Business 20
Odessa, TX  79762
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
6:00 8:00 PM

Service

Memorial Service

Immanuel Baptist Church
4020 E. Universtiy Blvd.
Odessa, TX  79761
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
10:00 AM