Date Of Birth: November 15, 1927
Date Of Death: October 6, 2011
Vera Louise Bates(Jackson), 83, passed away Oct. 6, 2011. She is survived by her two children Michael(Brenda) Bates and Pamela(John) Long; 5 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Gerald M. Bates, her parents, and her brother, Donald Jackson. Visitation will be held Friday Oct. 14 from 12pm until 2pm with services starting at 2 at the Christians United Church At Soldier’s Memorial Chapel, 5626 Lawton Loop East Drive, Indianapolis.
Rick Bradley SFC US Army Retired Disabled says
Dear Mike and family,
It has been a long time since I worked for Vera as a young Personnel Specialists assigned for duty at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana back in the early 1980GÇÖs. I am truly sorry for your loss. Vera was very instrumental in furthering my military career. Without her help and encouragement throughout my stay at Fort Benjamin Harrison, I seriously doubt that I would have made the military a career. I owe Vera so much. A simple thank you doesnGÇÖt seem to say enough. Oh! How much I admired her skills in the personnel field. The many lessons that she taught me came in handy throughout my military career as a Senior Personnel Sergeant E-7. I will miss her greatly! It has been an honor to have known Vera what little time I had with her as a young soldier. Vera saw qualities in me that I couldnGÇÖt see and through her abilities as a talented Personal Supervisor and trainer, she made me one of the ArmyGÇÖs best Personnel Senior Sergeants who ever wore the title. So many wonderful memories flood my mind as I reflect on those wonderful years stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison.
I retired from the U.S. Army in 1996 not by choice but due to illness. I am totally disabled now. I was on my way to 8th Perscom Headquarters, Seoul Korea, but those plans were preempted due to illness. Fort Polk, LA was my last assignment with the 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment, as the SI NCOIC before heading back to Warsaw, Indiana in 1996, where I currently live with my wife Linda and daughter Adrienne. There is so much of my story to tell, but this is not the proper format or the place. This spot is reserved for a great lady who I admired so much and thought of quit often throughout my military career. I only wish that I would have called Vera at least one time just to say thank you. Being a disabled Veteran, I often travel to the Roudebush Va Medical Center for medical checkups, and I cannot help but take a side trip to Fort Benjamin Harrison to revisit some of my old stomping grounds and to reflect on those days that have long since pasted. Mike, I wish you and your dear family the very best that life can offer. In closing, I want you to know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. And one last thank you to Vera for all that she did for me. God Bless!!!