Patricia Ellen Bates

Patricia Ellen Bates, 78, of Cambridge, died Friday (September 19, 2014) at Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center, Cambridge. She was born May 7, 1936 in Parkersburg WV, daughter of the late Don McDiffitt and Genevieve (Hess) McDiffitt. Mrs. Bates worked for twenty-five years with Ohio Mining and Reclamation, where she was an administrative assistant. She also sold Longaberger baskets for many years. She was a graduate of Caldwell High School. Mrs. Bates was an election poll worker, a den mother for Cub Scouts, and the "neighborhood grandmother". She loved to attend, and never missed, any school or sporting event for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was Lutheran by faith. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Jeff Bates. She is survived by her husband, Vance Bates, whom she married July 27, 1955; two sons, Jerry (& Lori) Bates of Cambridge and Jan (& Kim) Bates of Cambridge; a daughter, Judie (& Jeff) Wendorf of Hartville; two brothers, Don (& Linda) McDiffitt Jr. of Pennsylvania and David (& Melanie) McDiffitt of New Washington; a sister, Clarice Bechberger of Avon; seven grandchildren, Jason Bates, Jodi Bates, Melissa (& Steve) Oldson, John Bates, Kasey Bates, Jarrod Wendorf and Janelle Wendorf; and three great-grandchildren, Kaylie Oldson, Kamden Oldson, and Karsyn Oldson. A memorial service will be held Sunday (October 5, 2014) from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Thorn-Black Funeral Home, Cambridge. Burial will be at Guernsey Memory Gardens, at a later date. As an expression of sympathy, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to one of the following organizations: 1) Hospice of Guernsey Inc, PO Box 1165, Cambridge OH 43725; or 2) American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City OK 73123-1718.