Kenneth Lee Oates

Kenneth Lee Oates was born on May 23, 1937 to Louise and Paul Oates in Youngstown, Ohio. He was the oldest of 4 children. He’s preceded in death by his sisters, Janet Erwin and Marilyn Cupples. He was a strong student, excelling in math and the sciences. He was also a gifted musician, studying and performing the piano through college. As a high school student, he played the string bass as a member of the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra. He was an industrious young man who worked as a lifeguard and attained the level of Eagle Scout with the BSA. He attended The Ohio State University, earning 2 degrees simultaneously in a special 5 year program: both a BS and an MS in Chemical Engineering on a full Navy ROTC scholarship. After serving in the Navy, he went to work for Admiral Rickover in Washington DC, as a nuclear engineer, helping to develop and maintain the US nuclear sub program until his retirement in 1990.

He was a devoted husband to Emily Hedges, whom he married in 1967, and was an amazing father to his two daughters, Margaret Oates Weinberg and Carol Oates Garza. After retiring, he and Emily moved to Longview, Texas, where he came out of retirement to work as a comptroller for Longview Coca-Cola where Emily had joined the Board of Directors. In 2002, Ken and Emily moved to Houston, Texas, to be closer to Carol and her family. Emily passed away in 2015. Ken spent his last 7 years living with Carol and spending quality time with his grandchildren, helping daily, driving the kids to school, cooking his amazing enchiladas and doting on his faithful dogs and Carol’s 3 cats. He greatly enjoyed visits by Margaret and her family and traveled to Arizona to visit his grandkids whenever he could.

Ken is survived by his daughter Carol, her husband Larry and their three children, Emily, Jacob and Jordan; by his daughter Margaret, her husband, Mark and their two children, Jascha and Aleksei; by his brother, Bob Oates, his wife Patty and their two children, Robert Oates and his wife Michelle and Christine Schilling, her husband Ryan and her 3 children, Carter, Abby and Joey. He is also survived by his nieces Diane Cupples, Pam Cupples Welsh, Jodi Irwin Roberts, Elaine Irwin Chambers and nephew, James Irwin.

Ken will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

A visitation for Kenneth will be held Friday, September 9, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Calvary Hill Funeral Home, 21723 Aldine-Westfield Road, Humble, TX 77338. A funeral service will occur Saturday, September 10, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church, 7810 Cypresswood Drive, Spring, TX 77379.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CalvaryHillFuneralHome.com for the Oates family.