Howard Gordon Oates

Howard Oates

Howard Gordon Oates, 91, died on December 14, 2020 in Rock Hill, South Carolina with complications from recent illness. He was the son of Margaret C. Oates and Ike Oates, Sr., both of Tirzah, South Carolina. He is survived by his daughter, Angela M. Oates of Sacramento, California and his sister, Agnes O. Channell, her husband Charles E. Channell and their son Eddie Channell and his wife Diane Channell of York, South Carolina. Howard was married for 62 years to Wanda Pou Oates who preceded him in death in May 2018. Howard is also preceded in death by his four brothers Ike Oates Jr., Boyce Oates, David Oates and John Oates and two sisters Dorothy O. Harper and Nancy O. Baker.
Howard served in the U.S. Air Force and graduated from Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina. He worked for decades as a farm advisor in Greenville County with Clemson University Extension Service. He will always be remembered as a gentle soul who loved and cared for all those around him. He enjoyed nature, farming and tending to the earth. He was a man of faith, courage and hope.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM, Friday, December 18, 2020 at Greenville Memorial Gardens in Piedmont, South Carolina. Howard and the family request donations are sent to the Tirzah ARP Cemetery Fund at 6161 Mount Gallant Road, York, South Carolina 29745.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.brattonfuneralhome.com.
Bratton Funeral Home in York, SC is serving the Oates family.