Jan Bale Bates

Blythewood: A Celebration of Life for Jan Bates, 64, of Blythewood, will be held Thursday, May 26, 2011, at 1:00 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 155 Blythewood Rd, Blythewood, with The Rev. Kerrie Plump and Dr. Tim Sieberhagen officiating. The family will receive friends following the service in the church fellowship hall. Memorials may be made to Beulah United Methodist Church, 8515 Winnsboro Rd, Blythewood, SC 29016. Shives Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Jan went home to be with the Lord on Monday, May 23, 2011. Born in Seattle, Washington, on December 8, 1946, she was a daughter of the late Lt. Col Wilbur Owen Bale, US Army (Ret.) and Ruth Case Bale. A former assistant manager of telephone banking at First Citizens Bank and The Bank of Ridgeway in Blythewood, Jan was also an active member of Beulah United Methodist Church, where she served as a member of the choir, Sunday school teacher and was a certified lay speaker with the United Methodist Church. She was also a past secretary-treasurer of the SC Dressage and Combined Training Assoc. Jan was an accomplished equestrian with several horses and loved her Jack Russell, Bella. She was a member of a “Horsey Girl” book club and cherished all of her girlfriends who also ride. Jan had the heart of a servant and loved everyone she met with God’s unconditional love.

The family would like to express their sincere thanks to all her friends who donated time to help with her home care, the staff at SCOA where she was treated so well and the incredible job of Harmony Hospice, with special thanks to Allison Porter and Janet Rodgers, who truly loved and provided compassionate care during Jan’s final days of life.

Survivors include her husband, Andy Bates; sons, Drew Bates, David Bates and wife Lyndia; daughters, Melissa Poston and husband, Keith, Tonya Fulk and husband, Robert; six grandchildren, Christina Arrowood & C.T. Duke, Taylor Poston, Braden, Brenna, and Britton Adams, Rhys Bates; and her great grandson, Channing Duke; a brother, Lt. Col Hugh Owen Bale, US Army (Ret.) of Columbia; as well as a number of nieces and nephews, in-laws and cousins, and her closest sister in the Lord, Lavada Frick.