Carolyn was born May 15, 1949, in Winchester, Indiana, to Walker Wasson and Ruth Naomi Platt (Sibley). They preceded her in death.
She graduated from Winchester (Indiana) Community High School in 1967. On May 3, 1968, she married Paul E. Bates, a United States Marine, in Clintwood, Virginia.
In recent years, Carolyn was a homemaker, cooking dinner for anyone and everyone who visited and was hungry. Many people remember her from the years she worked at Brown County IGA in Nashville. She also had worked for Bigfoot/Johnson Oil Company in Nashville, and Anchor Hocking Corporation in Winchester.
Her greatest joy in life, however, was being “Nana” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was their undisputed, No. 1 fan, cheering them on at nearly every music, theater and sporting event.
She also enjoyed grocery shopping, decorating and dressing up for Halloween, cooking and crocheting.
Carolyn is survived by her husband, Paul E. Bates, of Nashville; two daughters, Linda (Rodney) Margison of Bloomington, and Loretta (James) Fox of Brown County; one son, Paul E. (Melissa Law) Bates Jr. of Columbus; a brother, Walker (Rita) Wasson of Winchester; 15 beloved grandchildren; four precious great-grandchildren; and an abundance of cherished sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and extended family.
Besides her parents, she was met in heaven by a child lost before birth; her sister, Bessie Bonham; three brothers, Donald Towne, Richard Wasson and Sidney Wasson; a niece, Debbie Bonham (Evers); and several in-laws.
A funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 4, at Walker Funeral Home, 248 E. South St. in Winchester.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 3, and from 11 a.m. Saturday prior to the service at the funeral home.
Burial will follow the service in the Bates family plot at Fountain Park Cemetery in Winchester.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Brown County High School Athletic Boosters, drama department or music department. Checks made payable to Brown County High School, P.O. Box 68, Nashville, IN 47448, should include “In memory of Carolyn Bates” on the memo line and specify which program (athletic, drama or music) is being supported.
Online condolences may be expressed at walkerswinchester.com.
