Services for Carl Stanley Bates will be held on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at 11 AM at St. John’s United Methodist Church, Rock Hill, SC, followed by a burial service at 2 PM at Greenbrier United Methodist Church in Winnsboro, SC. A brief visitation will be held immediately following the service at St. John’s and following the graveside service at the Greenbrier family home.
Carl passed away at the age of 92 on Thursday, September 28, 2023. He was born in Monks Corner, SC on January 23, 1931 to the late Clarence Stanley and Marie MacKnight Bates. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Helen Bates Zorick and Eva Bates Blois and brother, John Simmons Bates.
At the age of 15, Carl joined the US ARMY where he proudly celebrated his 16th birthday in Japan. After his service in the military, he attended Clemson University, graduating in 1954. It was while attending Clemson, that he met the love of his life, Madge Lewis, spending 67 wonderful years together.
Carl was the ultimate salesman throughout his life from co-owning a car dealership, to a BBQ restaurant and spending 42 years in the footwear industry with companies such as Freeman, Hushpuppies, and Dexter Shoe Company. He was an active member of St. John’s UMC, serving on various boards and community outreach programs of the church. He was an avid golfer and member of the RHCC and the Hobo’s Golf Association, cherishing all of his antics on the golf course with his friends. He enjoyed living life to the fullest with his foot on the pedal figuratively and sometimes literally in his beloved ’66 convertible mustang.
Carl wore many hats and carried many titles in his life, but he would tell you, without a doubt, that his greatest were husband, Dad and Papa.
Carl is survived by his wife Madge Lewis Bates; children Hugh Bates (Daphne) and Rebecca Jones (Stephen); grandchildren Josh Bates, Vivian Rebh (Chris), Rebecca Jones, Daniel Jones, Bates Jones and Ruthie Jones; brother-in-law John Blois and a number of beloved nieces, nephews and friends.
Pallbearers will be Josh Bates, Daniel Jones, Bates Jones, Chris Rebh, Lee Bates, Carey Bates, Lunceford Bass, Blaydes Moore and Jim Moore.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Greenbrier Church Cemetery Fund- 2086 Rion Road, Winnsboro, SC 29180; Eccles United Methodist Church in Huger, SC or St. John’s United Methodist Church, Rock Hill, SC.