Jack Herman Bates, a resident of Los Altos, CA for 40 years, passed away peacefully on November 16, 2022, shortly after his 90 th birthday. His last days were spent surrounded by close family.

Jack was born in Salt Lake City, UT in 1932, the fifth and last child of Ira and Louise Kroescher Bates. He graduated from South High School and received a football scholarship to Utah State, where he spent two years before being inducted into the Navy. His military service took him to Annapolis, Maryland, and Washington D.C. While in the Navy, he continued playing football, serving as co-captain of the 1954 Navy team. Jack cherished the friendships he made during his early years and enjoyed recounting the youthful pranks and football stories with his "old chums" well into their eighties.

After completing his military service, he returned to Utah and graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He married Darla Rice and they had three daughters: Tera Duncan, and twin daughters Tracey Long and Trina Boice. In 1966, he moved his family to California for an engineering role at Lockheed Martin. He received his M.B.A. from Santa Clara University in 1972 and continued working for Lockheed in various supervisory roles until his retirement in 1994. His passion for real estate investing led to a fulfilling post-retirement career that included teaching his kids (and anyone willing to listen) about the benefits of owning rental property.

After divorcing, he married Bette Berry in 1976 and they had one son, Robert ("RJ") Bates. Jack and Bette met through the Palo Alto Ski Club, the perfect start for their shared affinity for sports, friends, and travel. They were active members of the Los Altos Tennis Club, enjoying many years of mixed doubles tennis, and hosting parties at their home where laughter and friendly competition were always the focal points. Jack's natural mode was in costume with a microphone in hand, making jokes, leading sing-alongs, and presenting awards to others to celebrate their achievements.

His travels took him frequently back to Utah for family reunions at his beloved cabin in Woodland, where he guided bicycle, river-rafting, and fly-fishing adventures for family and friends. He loved experiencing different cultures and traveled with Bette and RJ throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. While he loved to travel abroad, he always said his favorite place was in his own backyard with his family, friends, and four-legged sidekicks.

As those who knew him would attest, Jack's greatest gift was his genuine interest in people and lifting those in need through his encouragement and generosity. For many years he and Bette hosted a Christmas charity event where guests would travel by "sleigh" (a rented van filled with hay) to shower a foster family with cheerful, off-pitch carols and gifts. As a Christian, he taught his children by example to love the Lord and live with integrity. A word of wisdom he shared with his family is that service to others is one of our main purposes in life. "Time on yourself
does not bring happiness; time for others does."

He is survived by his loving wife Bette; son RJ (Chanel); and daughters, Tera, Tracey (Larry Long), and Trina (Tom Boice). His legacy leaves behind 13 grandchildren and 6 great- grandchildren. He will be interred at Salt Lake City Cemetery on December 30, 2022, next to his parents and brother.

Thank you for loving our father, whose generous and fun-loving spirit will be greatly missed. Already we have received so many kind words and heartfelt stories about him from people whose lives he touched in different ways. They have warmed our hearts and softened our tears.
If you have a memory of Jack you would like to share with his family, we would be grateful to read them at his private memorial service on December 30, 2022. To read memories of Jack or post one of your own, please visit the Spangler mortuary website at https://www.spanglermortuary.com/obits.