Eric Travis Bates

He was born, on March 5, 1950, at Elliot Community Hospital, in Keene, to Frank Merrill and Virginia (Travis) Bates Jr., and was a long time resident of Harrisville. Eric attended Keene schools graduating from Keene High School in 1968 and Keene State College in 1977. He was a member of the Keene High School Wrestling Team in 1967 and 1968. He also played baseball for Keene High.

He was employed by several local businesses including Keene State College, Homestead Woolen Mills, and Troy Mills.

He served for over 30 years in the US Army working his way up the ranks from Private to Lieutenant Colonel. Lt. Colonel Bates’ Army assignments included: service as a squad leader and platoon sergeant with the 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam during the period of 1968 through 1970; company commander with the 203d Military Intelligence Battalion located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland from 1987 to 1989; Chemical Battle Staff Officer with the 24th Infantry Division, with locations at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, from 1990 to 1993; Operations Officer with the Army Reserve in Little Rock, Arkansas, Fort Jackson South Carolina, and Fort Devens, Massachusetts from 1994 through 2006. His Military awards included the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and two foreign campaign medals with eight battle stars. He was recognized with awards from five different US Presidents. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 799 in Keene.

After retirement, he worked on staff at the Student Conservation Association in Charlestown, New Hampshire and as a Junior ROTC instructor at Bertie High School in Windsor, North Carolina.

Eric is survived by his three children: Katie B. Bates and her husband Darrell F. Gyles of Deering, Tara L. Crosby of Mason and Matthew T. Bates and his wife Tiffany M. Bates of New Ipswich; as well as five grand-children: Trinity D. Pomerleau; Rosalie M. Crosby; Odin T. Bates; Violet D. Gyles; and Levi D. Crosby.

Eric was loved immensely by his children, grandchildren, and friends. His absence is heartbreaking and he will be missed dearly. Family was his highest priority and he adored his children and grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them as often as possible.

There will be a memorial service, with Military Honors, on Friday, June 17, 2016 at 11:00 am at the Fletcher Funeral Home. An hour of visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:00 until 11:00. Interment will occur at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.