Patricia Greene Bates

Patricia Greene Bates was born on 26 December 1942 in Annapolis, MD, the daughter of the late CMDR(r) Frederic H. Greene and Cathryne G. Greene. She was descended from General Nathaniel Greene, Revolutionary War hero. She graduated with honors from Westfield, NJ High School in 1960, where she sang soprano in the High School choir, and was selected for the New Jersey All State chorus as a First Soprano. In the summer, she was a lifeguard and swim instructor.

She graduated from Cornell University with a BFA in painting and a minor in Literature in 1964. She had oil paintings juried into several area Art Shows. She was a certified Interior Designer and eventually established her own business, Interior Scapes, in later years.

Pat was married for 62 years to her college sweetheart, and love of her life, Lieutenant General Jared L. Bates, U.S. Army, retired. During his 34 year career, they moved 24 times and lived in 10 states across the US as well as London and 5 cities in Germany. She credited him for bringing out her sense of humor.

She was active on every Army installation where they lived, wrote a column on Protocol, taught classes on Interior Design, College level “Drawing from the Right Side of the Brain,” Art Appreciation, Entertaining & Tabletop Decorating .She was an accomplished seamstress, fashioning drapes, curtains, napkins, clothing and fashioned many of her own and her daughter’s clothing. She played the piano and inherited her Mother’s baby grand..

She loved dishes and over the years collected 7 china sets, which were used often in her entertaining. She enjoyed employing various themes, and taught others the fun of mixing patterns, colors, textures, and games.

Pat was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, and active in the Williamsburg Alumnae group.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Elizabeth LeRoy Greene Debarger; her brother, John Herkimer Greene; and by her daughter, Carolyn Carmontry Bates Talbert.

She is survived by her son-in-law, Larry Carlton Talbert, Jr. (Trellise), and two sons: Matthew David Bates,(Gretchen), and CMDR(r) Justin Trevor Bates (CMDR(r) Lyndsi). Survivors also include nine grandchildren: Braden, Garrett, and Trey Talbert; Joshua, Jaxon, Sophia, and Jonathan Bates; and Ana and Ceci Andrathy, who all called her “Fairest Nanna in the Land!”

Pat was an active member of King of Glory Lutheran Church for more than 15 years. She loved art, creating, baking, nature, birds, labrador retrievers, irises, the ocean, the seasons, and Christmas! She loved God, loved her family, and loved her friends.

A celebration of life will be held at King of Glory Lutheran Church, 4897 Longhill Rd, Williamsburg, Virginia on April 17th at 10:00 AM.