John H. Bates Jr.

John was born in Ranger, Texas, March 10, 1936 to John Henry and Gladys Bates. He grew up in Breckenridge, Texas and graduated from Breckenridge High School where he played football and baseball. John married Doris Davis August 30, 1957 in Lubbock, Texas. He attended Texas Tech University and played baseball on the first team that Tech had after the baseball program was revived at the school. In 1959 John graduated from Texas Tech with a degree in petroleum engineering.

After he graduated from Tech, John entered the US Army and served one tour of non combat duty in the Korean War and two tours of combat duty in Vietnam. On John’s first tour in Vietnam he was injured and received the Purple Heart Metal. He served in the Army until 1974, and reached the rank of Major, he also earned two bronze stars, one with a “V” for Valor and one with the Oak Leaf cluster, and the sharp shooter metal among other metals and distinctions.

John earned a master’s degree from Georgia State University and taught school in the Lubbock ISD for 20 years and then taught for 10 years in the Floydada ISD.

John was a member of several organizations including; Scabbard and blade at Texas Tech; the Double T Association; the VFW, the DAV; Military Officer Association of America and the American Diabetes Association.

John was a big, gentle man and a devoted family man.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary Beth Taylor.

John is survived by his wife, Doris Bates of Lubbock, two daughters, Karen Jean Barber of Denver, CO; Steffani Paletta of Stanford, CT and two grandchildren.

Online condolences may be offered at: www.resthavenfuneralhome.com

Arrangements under the direction of Resthaven Funeral Home & Memorial Park, Lubbock, TX.