Obituary - Clifton LaRoy Bates

Clifton LaRoy Bates, 83, of Highland Springs, Virginia, went to be with the Lord on Friday, April 11, 2025, after a battle with Parkinson's and Dementia.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary C. (Atkinson) and Percy B. Bates, Jr.; and brother, Raymond Bates.

Clifton retired from DuPont as a Millwright after over 38 years of dedicated services and was a member of St. John's Catholic Church on Nine Mile Road. He was a powerlifter and won many competitions. Clifton enjoyed spending time fishing and telling stories. He was a great husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather to many and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving and devoted wife, Kathy Farmer Bates; children, Sharon Bates Sale, Christopher L. Bates; grandchildren, Taylor Sale Bowens (Devin), Chandler Bates; great-granddaughter, Harper Rose Bowens; special uncle and aunt, Charles "Sonny" and Cruz Atkinson; cousin, Cathy Sprouse; brothers-in-law, David Farmer (Sandy), Timothy Farmer; sister-in-law, Ruth Farmer (Chuck), Joy Cerisano, and her son, Justen Harris; as well as a host of extended family and friends.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 18, 2025, at Nelsen Funeral Home, 4650 South Laburnum Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23231, with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Please dress casual.