George T. Bates, 86, died Jan. 29, 2012.
He was born in Greenville, S.C., and moved to The Villages in 2004 from Vero Beach.
He retired from the Navy, serving in World War II and Korea, and then worked in several other fields, one of which was a lay minister for The Church of God.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Evelyn; son, Craig, of Vero Beach; daughter, Mitzi Terry, of Oxford; brother, Kenneth; sisters, Lonella McCracken and Barbara Bates; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A graveside funeral will be at 1 p.m. Feb. 3 in the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell.
Arrangements are by Banks/Page-Theus Funerals and Cremations, Wildwood.
A guest book is available at www.bankspagetheus.com.
