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1940 - 2024
 With profound sadness, we celebrate the life of Dewey Lee Yates who passed away suddenly at St. Mary’s Hospital on February 9, 2024, after suffering a myocardial infarction. Dewey, age 83, the eldest of three boys, was born on July 29, 1940, to Richard and Mildred Yates in Milton, WV. As a young boy, he saved money by delivering on a paper route. During church service as a young teen, he met and fell in love with Patricia Fennell and they married two days after his 16th birthday. They would have celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary on July 31. In 1958, he joined the Army and was stationed mostly in France and Germany. He told stories about driving the army supply truck on the Autobahn. He became an expert marksman and was in the 82nd Airborne. When he came home, he worked in the salt mines for a while, then he became a professional truck driver, working with Bell Lines/ Smiths Transfer/ USF Holland/ Van Wyk until he retired in 2000. He was a member of Lebanon Lodge #68 AF&AM and Aladdin Temple Shrine of Columbus, OH. Dewey became a Christian and was a long time member of Lower Creek Methodist Church, enjoying many years of teaching Sunday School there. He was also a past president of the Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society and took pleasure in chasing steam trains all over the country. Dewey had a passion for photography and travel. He has an extensive and impressive collection of pictures which were taken all over the country, many of steam trains and depots that no longer exist. He and Patricia pulled his fifth wheel around the country many times over, traveling with his parents as well as his Aunt Mary Alice and Aunt Eleanor on many journeys. Dewey will be remembered for the tremendous heart that he shared with others. To know him was to love him, as he had such a vibrant personality with a passion for life and a great love for his family. He was generous, giving so much of his time for others and had an incredible amount of knowledge. He could build a house completely and could repair anything. His impact on our lives was profound and he will be dearly missed. Dewey was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Mildred Yates, a daughter, Leslie Yates Bailey, a grandson, Jacob Hess, and a brother, Dana Yates. He is survived by his loving wife, Patricia Fennell Yates, two children, to whom he will always be a hero and who are so grateful to have his cherished memories: a son, Dewey Lee Yates, Jr. (Reva), of Florida, and a daughter, Loraine Yates Hess (Joe) of Huntington, WV. His memory will also live on with his six grandchildren, Brian (Mandy), Betsy (Shannon), Benjamin (Megan), Bradley (Emily), Ashley (Jake), Sarah (Steve); great-grandchildren include Caleb, Ethan, Ziggy, Isabella, Penny, Benjamin, Maggie, Miles, Zoe, Theo, Thessaly, Shana, Sargent, Logan, Liam, Josie, and Marceal; great-great-grandchildren are Aurora and Magnolia; a much loved brother, Robin Yates (Barbara) of Niles, MI; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday, February 15, 2024 at the Wallace Funeral Home in Milton. Rev. Ted Nance will be officiating. Burial will be in Forest Memorial Park, Milton. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday prior to the service. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.timeformemory.com/wallace.
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There are currently 4 condolences.
Joan Carringer
Friday March 1, 2024 at
1:43 PM
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May you rest in peace, my dear brother-in-law. You will be missed. Pat, please know that I am constantly praying for your comfort and peace. Love you both so much.
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Penelope Scarberry
Friday February 16, 2024 at
2:42 PM
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Pat, I am so sorry for your loss. Praying that god helps you through your grief.
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Bill Sparkmon
Wednesday February 14, 2024 at
9:05 PM
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Pat,
I so sorry to hear about Dewey's passing, it brought back memories of our times riding NRT and chasing 614T during the winter in 1985. He was a great friend to me and I wish I could have visited you and Dewey to talk about the adventures we had together. I wish I could be there at the funeral but won't be able to be there. I'll remember you in my prayers for comfort in the upcoming days.
Bill
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Patty
Wednesday February 14, 2024 at
12:42 PM
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I love you. You were my inspiration and my world
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