Ronald Frank Gates

February 12, 1944 - May 12, 2022

Ronald Frank Gates, age 78, of Washington, Iowa, died Thursday, May 12, 2022, at the Washington County Hospital following a sudden illness. Celebration of life services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 27, 2022, at the Prairie Flower Baptist Church with Pastor David Cotner and Pastor Tim O’Tool officiating. Military honors will be accorded following services at the church. Interment will take place at the Edward’s Cemetery in Oakville, Iowa. Memorials have been established for Prairie Flower Baptist Church or Iowa Regular Baptist Camp in Ventura, Iowa. The Jones & Eden Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent for Ron’s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com. Ron was born February 12, 1944, in Oakville, Iowa, the son of Everett O. and Maryhelen (Creighton) Gates. During his youth, Ron was a member of the Boy Scouts of America attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. One of his fondest memories was canoeing down the Mississippi River from Wisconsin to Oakville and going to Camp Eastman. He loved sports, especially baseball, for which he often would forget to deliver his papers as he was needed in a pick-up game. Ron graduated from Wapello Community High School and joined the United States Air Force. He served four years, a Vietnam veteran, later joining the Iowa National Guard and retiring as Staff Sergeant in 1991 after serving in Germany during Desert Storm. Ronald married Kay Gates on December 11, 1964. To this union was born four beautiful daughters, Bonnie Faye, Diane Kay, Mary Beth and Frances Elizabeth. Ron’s love of ball continued by playing softball with the Bucks until he was 42 years old, while coaching little league. He was a member of the Mt. Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department for 15 years. He worked at the Iowa Ordinance Plant, Oakville Feed and Grain, Iowa Southern Utilities and retired from Alliant Energy serving as gas foreman. Ron was a dedicated father who loved to travel, spend time watching his girls play in different sports and of course his grandchildren in theirs. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan and Iowa Hawkeyes fan. Ron was a member of Prairie Flower Baptist Church serving as usher and trustee. Ronald is survived by his wife, Kay Gates of Washington, Iowa; daughters, Bonnie (Steve) Donnolly of Piney Flats, Tennessee; Diane (Dennis) Countryman of Fairfield, Iowa; Mary Beth Moravec of Washington, Iowa; and Frances Elliott of Canyon County, California; ten grandchildren: Marcus Elliott, Aubreana (Keith) Lawrence, Molly (Oluremi) Osibanjo, Austin Countryman and fiancé Lindsey Moothart, Mitchell Countryman and fiancé Hayley Rankin, Kourtnie (Angelo) Reyes, Caitlin Moravec, Samuel Donnolly, Trevor Moravec, and Katie Donnolly; nine great-grandchildren: Adayia, Adamina and Anastasia Elliott, Zendaya and Keith Lawrence, Peyton, Leo and Milo Reyes, and Ayomide Osibanjo. He is also survived by one brother, Dennis (Lucianna) Gates of Carrollton, Texas, and three sisters-in-law, Ida McNeil of Wapello, Iowa, Jane LaPella of Johnson City, Tennessee, and Carolyn Bartenhagen of Wapello, Iowa, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Ron was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, son-in-law, Scott Moravec, and three brothers-in-law, A. Burns McNeil, Robert LaPella, and Clarence Bartenhagen.