Mary Edna Bates, 90 of Princeton passed away at her home.

She was born August 23, 1927 in Ft. Branch, IN to Bernard Lee and Cora (Ringham) Lee.

She graduated from Princeton High School in 1945 and was proud her children graduated from the same high school. She had been a book keeper and then became a secretary at the Gibson County Bank and for Old National Bank in Princeton for 25 years before her retirement. She loved the Lord and was a active member of the Tower Heights Church of God. She was a gifted piano player, playing for the church, she and her husband Charles were involved with the youth doing puppet shows and taught Sunday School and taught herself to be a ventriloquist. She was an avid reader.

Mary Edna is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Frank and Debbie Bates of Louisville, KY; daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and John Leiter of Columbia City, IN; 4 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charles P. Bates in 2008; 2 sisters, Gilberta Ransford and Elsie Morton; 3 infant brothers; grandson, C.J. Leister and a step-father, Ules Slinker.

A memorial service will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, September 23, 2017 at the Tower Heights Church of God, 2005 Keystone Ave. Princeton, with Rev. Skip Farmer officiating. A private graveside service and burial has taken place at the Warnock Cemetery in Princeton. The Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton has been entrusted and assisting with the arrangements.