Obituaries
Robert “Bob” H. Bates, Sr, 77
March 19, 2025
Robert H. Bates, Sr., 77, passed away at his Lancaster home on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, following a 4½ year battle with ocular melanoma. Sharing 37 years together, he enjoyed 21 years of marriage with his wife Michele D. (Miller) Bates.
Bob was born in Lancaster, the son of the late Garth V. and Dorothy E. (Smith) Bates, and he graduated from J.P. McCaskey High School.
He worked as a millwright in the tile department at the Armstrong World Industries floor plant from 1972 to 2005. Bob then worked for Tomlinson Bomberger Lawn Care & Landscape doing equipment maintenance and fabrication.
Bob could do anything from building construction to automotive, including woodworking making game boards and refinishing furniture. He enjoyed working on antique and classic cars, teaching his son Bob Jr. as he worked. He always looked for something to do, especially to help others. He would talk with his sons-in-law about everything and anything for hours at a time.
He was a member of Millersville Bible Church and shared in mowing the lawn. Bob loved to care for his own lawn and flowerbeds and his neighbors’ lawns.
Bob and Michele enjoyed vacations in New Yok to Niagara Falls and the Thousand Islands.
In addition to Michele, Bob’s family includes sons, Robert H. Bates, Jr., husband of Deana of Lancaster and Garth R. Bates of Lancaster, daughters, Tiffany, wife of Darrell Kreider of Lancaster and Cortney, wife Joshua Palmatier of New Providence, 16 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and his Havanese dog Pash. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Richard G. Bates, husband of Carole of New Providence.
Services and interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a contribution in Bob’s memory to Millersville Bible Church, 121 N. George St, Millersville, PA 17551
Millersville Bibe Church
or Hospice & Community Care, 685 Good Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601
Hospice & Community Care
or American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741
American Cancer Society
Leave a condolence on this Memorial Page
Condolences to the Family
March 28, 2025
Bob and family: So sorry to read that your father passed away. Sending our condolences. Rick and Karen Fralich
March 25, 2025
Sorry for your loss Michele. Rest in peace Bob you earned it. Glenn Feltch
March 23, 2025
Michele, So sorry for your temporary loss, you will be with him again in God’s time. Enjoy his great memories as I will knowing, laughing, and working with him since 1977. God Bless. Mark
March 23, 2025
I remember Mr. Bob coming in to visit his wife at our store such an amazing human! You are dearly missed.
Kasey
March 23, 2025
Michele – you may remember me from armstrong. i wirked with bob in the tile dept and thought of him many times and the fun times in the dept. sorry to hear of his passing, he is now pain free and has a healed body and in the loving arms of God.
roger smeal
March 23, 2025
Bobby and I grew up together and shared our lives as good friends, even working together at Armstrong. I had the distinct pleasure to share my faith in Jesus Christ with Bobby many years ago in hope he would also believe. I am sorry to learn of my friend’s passing and may God comfort all who mourn with me.
Jim Sheppard, Harrington, DE
