Charles Paul Bates, 86, passed away on Tuesday October 28, 2008 at the Gibson General Hospital in Princeton.

Charles was retired from the U.S. Postal Service. He also served in the U.S. Army during WWII. He was a member of the First Church of God in Princeton. He was active at the Gibson County Council on Aging-Senior Center. 

He was born on May 9, 1922 in Gibson County to Charles Franklin and Hallie L. (Hendricks) Bates, both deceased. Also preceding him in death were his brothers and sisters, Mary Magill, Forrest Bates, Ruth McCandless, John Bates and Roy Bates; and a grandchild, C.J. Leiter. 

Charles is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Edna (Lee) Bates of Princeton; daughter & son-in-law, Sharon (Bates) and John Leiter of Columbia City, IN; son & daughter-in-law, Frank and Debbie Bates of Louisville, KY; 4 grandchildren, Forrest Paul Bates and Vicky of Bowling Green, OH, Marianne (Bates) Rader and Tim of Depauw, IN, Jill (Leiter) Kramer and Mike of New Castle, IN, and David Charles Leiter and Stefanie of Anderson, IN; 9 great grandchildren, Tegan, Maya and Tayden Charles Rader, Josiah, Benjamin and James Bates, Jacob and Sophia Kramer, and Ava Leiter; and several nieces and nephews. 

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday October 31, 2008 at the Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton officiated by Pastor Louie Pantelis. Burial will be at the Warnock Cemetery in Princeton.

Friends may visit from 4 until 8 PM on Thursday at the Colvin Funeral Home.