George H. Bates, 88, Was Firefighter in Fall River

George H. Bates, 88, of Somerset, died August 9 at the Clifton Nursing Home. He was husband of Alice K. (Keighley) Bates, who died at the nursing home August 10.

Mr. Bates had lived in Somerset since 1992 since moving from Virginia Beach, Va., but lived most of his life in Fall River, where he was born. He was the son of the late Robert and Ida (Lancaster) Bates.

Until his retirement in 1970, he was a captain in the Fall River Fire Department for 30 years, and belonged to the AFL-CIO Firefighters Local. He was a member of the Somerset Methodist Chuch as well as a certified real estate appraiser and a past member of the Rhode Island State Board of Realtors.

He is survived by a son, Richard D. Bates, of Peterborough, N.H.; a daughter, Diane B. Stewart, of La Spezia, Italy, Naples, Fla., and Oak Bluffs, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held in Somerset on August 30.