Lois A. Bates

LOIS A. BATES

DECEMBER 10, 1932—NOVEMBER 24, 2019

     Lois A. Bates passed away on Sunday, November 24, 2019 in the morning at the age of 86. She passed comfortably under the care of Hospice of the North Coast with her daughter, Kelly by her side.

     Lois Ann Bates (Kinser) was born to Ezra and Ruth Kinser in Heltonville, Indiana. She was raised in a very rural part of the state in a small two-bedroom home without running water.  She graduated with a class of 13 students!! After graduation, Lois moved to Indianapolis where she re-introduced to a childhood friend and the man she married, Gilyard Bates, on November 6, 1954. She was a dutiful Navy wife travelling all over the country, stationed at Great Lakes, Hawaii, Indiana and Virginia.

     The family moved to Vista, California in 1967 when Gil was deployed to Viet Nam, and that became the family home. Lois worked as a bookkeeper for a few small family businesses and the as a systems analysis on Camp Pendleton. Lois, Gil and her daughters were very active in the Masonic Orders. Gil with the Masonic Lodge; Lois, Gil and daughters with Job’s Daughters International; and, both Lois and Gil with Eastern Star in Oceanside and Fallbrook. Lois received her 50 year pin from Poinsettia Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star on June 28th, 2011 and her service award on January 1, 2000.  She held several offices in both chapters; serving as Worthy Matron in Poinsettia twice 1982-1983 and 1986-1987. She also was Deputy Grand Matron for the order from 1993-1994.  To her delight, she was asked to be Grand Ruth for the Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star from 1997-1998 under the leadership of Sue McKinney and Ernie Lewis.

     After they both retired, Lois and Gil, moved to Tennessee for a few years and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on November, 6th, 2004.  She lost her husband, Gil, on December 1, 2004.  After staying in Tennessee for a short while, the warmth of California drew her back to Oceanside, living at Fairwinds. After a short trip back to Tennessee, she moved back to San Marcos, CA living in the Silvergate assisted living facility. After becoming ill, she moved into the Silvergate Memory Care facility.

     Lois was a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother survived by her four daughters: Pat Ward in South Bend, Utah; Kellie McMahon in San Diego, CA; Janet Gupton in Bremerton, Washington; and Kathy Donkin in Nashville, Tennessee. She is also survived by 8 grandchildren, and 9 great grand-children along with her good friends in Tennessee Wanda Farris and Bob Blackmer. The family would like to thank Bobbie Allen, her constant companion and long-time friend; Norma Castaneda, her caregiver at Silvergate Memory Care; and Hospice of the North Coast for their excellent service and loving care.

     Per Lois’s wishes, she was cremated and will have her ashes interned with her husband Gil sometime in the spring at Arlington National Cemetery. Her memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 18th, 2020 at 2pm at the Oceanside Masonic Center, 511 Eucalyptus Center, Oceanside, CA  92054.

Donations can be made to the Eastern Foundation or to the Hospice of the North Coast.   

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