Barbara Bates

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

On Thursday, Dec 9, 2021, Barbara Bates peacefully passed away.

Barbara was born on Feb 12, 1934 at the Neier homeplace, five miles east of Cloverdale.

Always interested in art and education, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University. Later she earned a Master-Plus 40 from Rockford College in Rockford, Ill.

She taught school, mostly junior high, for 35 years, teaching home arts and visual arts. She had a love for the beauty of nature, making her own art and works of other people in music, art and architecture. Upon retirement, she was a docent in the Rockford Art Museum and later, after moving to Greencastle, the Putnam County Museum.

Barbara was preceded in death by her mother and father, Ruth and Lewis Neier; her brother, Erwin Neier; her husband and life partner, John Albert Bates; as well as her son, John Alan Bates.

She is survived by Jerry and Katie Bates and grandsons Abel and Raymond, all of Cloverdale.

A celebration of life will be held at the Greencastle Presbyterian Church at 653 S. County Road 100 E, Greencastle, on Dec 21 at 3:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances can be sent to the Putnam County Museum, 1105 N. Jackson St., Greencastle, IN 46135.