PRINCETON, Ind. — Wanda Mae Bates, 82, of Princeton, Indiana, passed away on Thursday, August 20, 2009, at her home in Princeton. She was a homemaker and lived in Princeton most of her life. She was born May 5, 1927, in Tennyson, Indiana.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William Gordon and Eunice B. (Vitito) Witherspoon. She was also preceded in death by her husband, John R. Bates in 1976; and brother, Jack Gordon.

Wanda is survived by her 9 children and their spouses, Patricia (Tim) O'Rourke of Bedford, Ind., Joe (Donna) Bates of Crystal Lake, Ill., Jerry (Billie) Bates of Hazelton, Ind., Priscilla (Ron) Caringer of Princeton, Ind., Barbara (Dale) Krieg of Princeton, Ind., Jeff (Donna) Bates of Patoka, Ind., Tim (Lana) Bates of Princeton, Ind., Tom (Karen) Bates of International Falls, Minn., and Pam Bates of Princeton; stepchildren and their families, Robert E. "Bud" (Priscilla) Bates of Owensboro, Ky., Bonnie (Jerry) Lance of Oakland City, Ind., and Ed (Vicki) Bates of Mt. Vernon, Ill.; 16 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 25, 2009, at 11 a.m. at Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton, with the Pastor Kevin Wilson officiating. Burial will be at the Warnock Cemetery in Princeton. Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. on Monday at the Colvin Funeral Home.