Our Father was born to the late Alberta Lucas and Walter Oates, Sr. on January 28, 1940, in Washington, DC. He attended the DC Public Schools, graduating from Phelps Vocational School specializing in the Health Care Field.
He became a church member at an early age at the Delaware Avenue Baptist Church in Southwest Washington and briefly sang with the youth choir where he met and married Patricia (Patty) Mudd. From that union two children were born (LaWanda & Walter T.)
In 1996, he briefly worked for the Post Office, before moving on to work for the General Accounting Office before he took a position at St. Elizabeth Hospital, at the John Howard Bldg. for the Criminally Insane as a Forensic Technician. In 1998, after 20 years of service he retired from St. Elizabeth Hospital.
After retirement he did some traveling, spent time with his family, enjoying family cookouts, going to various restaurants, as well as spending numerous hours in his beloved garden, shopping, going to church, to the park to feed the birds, washing his car and keeping up with current events.
He leaves to cherish a daughter LaWanda Oates, a son Walter T. Oates, a Daughter in Law Miranda, two grandchildren William L. Ferrell and Tamera Oates, one Great Granddaughter, a sister Roberta Brandon, many nieces and nephews, extended family, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Martha Harper, Delores Oates Webber, Claudine O. Webber and Vivian Humphrey.