By Ethel Mae KinKade
Bonnie Ben Bates was the fourth son of Thomas Jefferson and Flora Bates
Life - growing up - military service - marriage ethelkinkadeadded this on 1 Jun 2010Bonnie Ben was inducted into the Army of the United States on October 22, 1942 at Portland, Oregon. He was 41 years and 9/12 months old. His occupation before his induction was rigger. He was 5 feet 9 inches in height. His AS# was: 39320209. He completed 6 months and 24 days of service (Oct. 22, 1942 to May 15, 1943) for which he received longevity pay. He was then discharged by Order of Secretary of War, par. 22a AR 150-5 & WD AGO Radio. He was transferred to ERC (Interactive Service) May 15, 1943 to accept employment in essential industry. Notice lost under AW107. It was noted that he was of excellent character. His Enlistment record was signed by John A. Bell, 1st Lieut. A.G.D., Assignment & Separation Branch, Military Personnel Division. Source: Enlistment record 83 4 2681. Bonnie received a Certificate of Service given at Walla Walla Army Division field, Walla Walla, WA signed by Harvey E. Gilmore, Major Air Corps dated May 15, 1943. On that date, he received his Muster-Out pay (in full) $51.95 which included travel pay to Grants Pass, Oregon. Source: Certificate of Service. Another item of interest: Honorable Discharge from the Army of the United States certifying Bonnie Ben Bates #39320209 - Private Enlisted, Roseburg, OR given by ASF, HQ Ninth Service Command, Fort Douglas, Utah dated 26 Oct. 1944 - signed by Roy W. Asbury, Major, ACD, Assignment & Separation Branch Military Personnel Division. Source: Honorable Discharge dated 26 Oct. 1944 No children in his marriage with Tillie. Tillie had a son when they married, Lawrence. Some places that Bon and Tillie lived: Springfield, Oregon and Coos Bay, Oregon. At Coos Bay, they could see the ocean from where they lived. During Bon's working years, he was a pipe fitter with Local 585060, Building Construction. Bon Bates reminisced to his niece, Flora Ann Bates, on July 12, 1984 the following: "My great-grandfather Bates had land in Tennessee, probably too much land because his sons (Thomas, John & Bill) helped him. The government said they could have as much land as they could take care of. In those days, with horses and guns, they could hold/command a lot of ground. The government decided they had too much land and offered money or a smaller amount of land. So - they took the money and moved to Arkansas. After that, they rented the land to farm." Bon related that his ancestors were from England (English, Scotch and Irish). About the year 1904 - Thomas, his second wife, Flora and three sons (Mont, Oady and Bon) moved out to Oregon on the train, bringing some of their furniture and trunks filled with their belongings. Thomas, along with a son from his first marriage (James Ragen Bates), bought land (45.17 acres) in Riddle, Oregon. James and his family were already residents in the town of Riddle, Oregon. James and his wife, Victoria Parrish, and children had moved to Oregon about 1897. Bon related that his mother, Flora Ethel, was a real southerner. She always used the word "whop", for example "I'm gonna whop you!" Bon said his mother got right out there, swinging those picks and axes, working along with the men to build the road up the hill where their house was located. The hill was named Bates Hill. The property had many Madrone trees on it. The burls under the trees were used to make furniture. They had horses and cows up on the farm, but the water was bad, so they sold their livestock. They always had to boil their drinking water. According to Bon, "His dad died on the home place at Riddle. He had kidney trouble." Bon related that when he was about 10 or 12 years old (he thought he was in the 5th grade) his mother moved them all to downtown Riddle. They rented a house there. Bon said he later planted apple, pear, and cherry trees on the Bates Hill property. He also gathered pine cones and later put the seeds around the place. Then logging happened near the place and some logging on the property also. He wasn't happy about that. Bon said he later sold the old house to a prospector. It was torn down and moved somewhere else.
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Burial notice: ethelkinkadeadded this on 8 Jun 2010Services for Bonnie B. Bates, 83, of Coos Bay, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Sunset Memorial Park with the Rev. Everett Curry of the First Baptist Church in Coos Bay officiating. Coos Bay Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Bates was born April 8, 1902, at Fort Smith, Ark., and died Dec.10, 1985 at Roseburg. He was a resident of Coos Bay since 1978, and retired as a pipe fitter for heavy construction work. He was a U.S. Army Air Force veteran of World War II, and was preceeded in death by his wife, Tillie Bates in Dec.1982. Survivors include a stepson, Larry Flanders of Bandon; and one nephew. Edit Delete
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Services for Bonnie B. Bates, 83, of Coos Bay, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Sunset Memorial Park with the Rev. Everett Curry of the First Baptist Church in Coos Bay officiating. Coos Bay Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Bates was born April 8, 1902, at Fort Smith, Ark., and died Dec.10, 1985 at Roseburg. He was a resident of Coos Bay since 1978, and retired as a pipe fitter for heavy construction work. He was a U.S. Army Air Force veteran of World War II, and was preceeded in death by his wife, Tillie Bates in Dec.1982. Survivors include a stepson, Larry Flanders of Bandon; and one nephew.
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