This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Joel Bates, 80, born on August 12, 1934 and passed away on March 26, 2015. We will remember him forever.

Funeral Service at John Wesley United Methodist Church, Wednesday, April 1st, @ 2 pm. John Wesley United Methodist Church, 5830 Bermuda Dunes Drive. Houston, TX  77069

Joel Gordon Bates was born August 12th, 1934, in Warsaw, Indiana, to proud parents, Eleanor and Lionel. His parents were very young, and the family lived with Joel's grandparents for his first five years before moving to Chicago. He and his sister, Janice (10 years his junior), grew up in Chicago where their father was a printer. While Joel was in high school, the family returned to northern Indiana to help Joel's grandparents with their restaurant. He played high school basketball in Syracuse, where they lived on a lake.
Joel studied civil engineering at Purdue University earning his Bachelor of Science degree. He was a proud member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and remained a Boilermaker all his days. After graduation, he was a reserve officer in the U.S. Army leaving at the rank of Captain. In 1956, Joel joined Esso and worked at the Bayway refinery in Linden, New Jersey.
It was at a wedding for one of his fraternity brothers that he met Dee, a young school teacher from Pennsylvania. It didn't take long for Joel and Dee to fall in love and marry. Esso soon sent them to business school at Cornell University where they both earned Joel's MBA. After their twin boys arrived, they settled in Pittsburgh close to Dee's family. There Joel joined Westinghouse where he worked in business development and marketing and eventually got involved in "sky buses."
In 1970, he moved the family to Texas to help start a company which engineered transit systems (including the train system at the Atlanta Airport). He moved onto Gerald D. Hines Interests and was a vice-president at Brown & Root, Hawker Siddeley and Raymond International.
Late in his career he began work at Mobil Power which eventually became part of ExxonMobil. In 2002 he retired, ending his career coincidentally with the company he started with 45 years earlier.
His career took him all over the world, but he remained true to his Midwestern values. When he gave his word, he kept it. Joel and Dee remained in Houston for their retirement, but traveled a lot, especially enjoying Spain and the UK. And, of course, he had more time for golf. He was also devoted to his parents in their last years.
A member of John Wesley United Methodist Church, Joel enjoyed singing in the choir, Sunday School, and helping church members with Job Search Support.
He had a strong love for Scouting. As an Eagle Scout and Scoutmaster, he proudly lived Scouting's principles. He was so by the book, the Scouts nicknamed him "G.I. Joel."
Summers were about family vacations at "the lake" in Indiana. That meant boating, grilling spare ribs, and golf. Golf was one of Joel's passions. He was a long-time member at Champions Golf Club and played with his long-time golf friends. He was devoted to his family - showing support and love and an example of how to live an honorable life.
On March 26, 2015, Joel left us to be with God. He is preceded in death by his parents, Lionel and Eleanor. He's survived by his loving wife, Dee; his son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Ute Bates; his son, Colin Bates; his daughter and son-in-law, Allison and Paul Free; his grandsons, John, Matthew, Philip, and Tim Bates; his sister, Janice Knaus, and his nephew, Kevin Knaus.