Evelyn J. Bates, 95, of Charleston, passed away Friday, January 9, 2015 at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, Mattoon.

Her Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, January 17, 2015 . Lying in state at 9:00 a.m.at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 5212 W. Agatite Avenue, Chicago, Mass 10:00 a.m. Interment St. Adalbert Cemetery, Niles, Illinois. Memorials in her honor may be made to: Park Ridge V.F.W. #3579 Ladies Auxiliary, 10 Higgins Road, Park Ridge, IL 60068.

Evelyn was born January 18, 1919 in Chicago, Illinois, daughter of John A. and Josephine (Klodzinski) Vojacek. She married Alvin Francis Bates, September 14, 1949 in Chicago; he preceded her in death December 28, 1998. She is survived by two sons: Robert Bates, PhD and wife Kathleen of Charleston and Mark Bates, M.D. and wife Cheryl Warner of Ada, MI; daughter-in-law: Maria Bates of Tulsa, OK; eleven grandchildren: Christopher Bates, Mark Bates and wife Carolyn, Katherine Bates, Brian Bates, Theresa Bates, Anastacia Bates, Bradley Bates, Nicolai Bates, Justin Bates, Spc Alexander Bates, and Spc Thomas Bates. She was also preceded in death by one son: John Francis Bates, J.D.; two brothers: Richard Vojacek and Edward Vojacek; and one sister: Lorraine Chambliss.