Robert “Bob” Foster Bates III, age 63, originally of Newbury Township, passed away peacefully on Jan. 25, 2024, in Safety Harbor, Fla., after a short illness.
Bob was born in Chardon, to Robert F. Jr. and Carole J. (nee Lewis) Bates, on Jan. 14, 1961. He went to Newbury Elementary School until third grade and for a time attended St Helen’s Catholic School in Newbury. He was a member of and performed with the St Helen’s Unicycle Team. Bob then transferred to Newbury Jr. High and High School in Newbury Ohio, where he played on the Newbury Black Knights Football team until he graduated in 1979. During that time, he broke and held for decades several team and conference records. He was a Cleveland Press and Plain Dealer All-Star during his football career.
Bob was fun loving and enjoyed riding his motorcycle, but is passion was sports. If there was a game on, he would watch, especially Browns football and Cleveland baseball. His dream of living in the sunshine was recently fulfilled when he and his wife, Roberta, moved to the Tampa Bay area.
Bob is preceded in death by his father, Robert F. Bates Jr.; sister Robbin; grandparents, Robert F. Sr. and Eleanor D. (nee Stanis) Bates, and Ralph and Bernice (nee Dick) Lewis; aunt Eloise (Bates) Kuhen; uncle Thomas Lewis; and cousins Alan Bates and Thomas Lewis.
Bob is survived by his wife, Roberta (nee Priester) Bates; mother, Carole J. (nee Lewis) Bates; children, Robert (Beau) Bates, Hannah Bates; siblings Theresa Boughner (Steven), Timothy Bates (Paula) and Rebecca Bates; uncles Alan Bates (Joyce) and Richard Kuhen; aunt Diana (nee Lewis) Butler (Ronald); nephews, Steven Boughner (Krista), Brian Boughner (Alexandria), Shawn Boughner (Chelsea), Timothy Bates and Conner Bates; grandchildren, Vincent and Siena; as well as many great-nieces and great-nephews.
Private family service will be at St Helen’s Church on Kinsman Road in Newbury, with Father Jay McPhillips officiating, at a later date.
A private family burial will follow at Newbury Center Cemetery on Auburn Road.
Memories and condolences can be shared with the family at www.slyffh.com.
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