Willie Henry Bates

Willie Henry Bates was born on December 3, 1933 in Decatur, Georgia. From the time he was a young boy, he lived in Atlanta, Georgia with his grandmother and mother, Willie Mae Worthy, where he attended David T. Howard High School. He later received his GED from Clark County Community College in Las Vegas, Nevada. Willie joined the United States Air Force in 1951. He met his pen pal and future wife, Claudette Powell, while stationed in Germany in 1954. They corresponded for two years before meeting face to face in 1956. They became engaged in 1957 and married in 1958 at Lawndale Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois.

They moved to Glendale, Arizona when Willie was stationed at Luke Air Force Base. They started a family. They had one son, Willie Jr. and four daughters, Valerie (deceased, 1960), Veronica (deceased 2017), Janice and Christina. They moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1966 when Willie was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base and have lived there ever since. Willie is survived by his wife of 67 years, Claudette, seven grandchildren, Andre' Sr., Bianca, Jordan, Javon, Noah, Anthony Jr. and Arianna. He is also survived by eight great grandchildren, Gianna, Andre' Jr., Adrian, Caleb, Brayden, Maxwell, Savannah, Odin and one great great grandchild, Brielle.

Willie retired as a Technical Sergeant from the United States Air Force in 1974 after 22 years of service. He then began another 22 year career at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department as an Evidence Custodian in 1975 until his retirement in 1997.

Willie became a member of Calvary Southern Baptist Church in 1991, under the Reverend Jaffus L. Haley. He was baptized by Reverend Robert Barnes in 1992 Willie served as the President of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He took a great deal of pride in the work he did for Calvary Southern Baptist Church. In his spare time, Willie Henry Bates loved spending time with his family, close friends, gardening, watching sports and listening to music.

A visitation for Willie will be held Friday, September 26, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Palm Mortuary - Cheyenne, 7400 West Cheyenne Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada 89129. A funeral service will occur Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Calvary Southern Baptist Church, 1600 E Cartier Ave, North Las Vegas, NV 89030.

Willie will be laid to rest in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veterans Memorial Drive, Boulder City, Nevada 89005 on Monday, September 29, 2025 at 10:40AM.