GEORGIA "LYNN" RODGERS BATES, 69, of
Wharton, TX, entered into eternal rest on Oct. 8,
2013, after a lengthy illness, which she fought
with grace and dignity. Burial was at the Ft.
Sam Houston National Cemetery.
She was born July 5, 1944 in Cherokee, OK to Robert
Max & Barbara Adair Rodgers.
Her beloved husband of 54 years, Don Bates, preceded
Lynn in death, passing away the same day by a mere
two hours. Theirs was a true love story. Lynn cared
for Don as he battled illnesses, even when she was
suffering.
Lynn moved with family from Cherokee, OK to Houston,
TX in 1956. She was in the first graduating Class
of Westbury High School in 1962. She attended Sam
Houston State University and majored in education
and was a twirler in the band. Lynn always loved
to dance and performed in the schools theatrical
performances. Lynn received her undergraduate
education degree and followed with a Masters in
Kinesiology. She taught at Ranger High School in
the 1970s also a dance & drill team instructor at
Ranger Jr. College.
Lynn married her college sweetheart and football
team player, Don Bates, in Aug. of 1966. His
football coaching jobs took them to Hitchcock,
Lumberton, Brownsville, and Wharton ISDs, as well
as to Sam Houston State University, Ranger Jr.
College, & Wharton County Jr. College.
In Lumberton, Lynn formed her first of many school
dance teams. In 1976, she started The Lynn Bates
School of Dance in Wharton. For the past 37 years,
Lynn has taught dance (3 years to adult) in Wharton
and Bay City. For approximately 30 years, she
instructed the Junior Jazz Dance Co., a competitive
dance team, composed of young teenage women, winning
many national honors. Her Dancing Divas, the adult
dancers, were always a crowd favorite at her annual
dance recitals. Through the years she was invited
to be a guest instructor and or judge at numerous
national dance festivals and drill team camps. She
was a member of several national dance educator
organizations. She also competed in ballroom dance
competitions.
Her legacy is the success of her dance students. She
has helped many young women reach their potential not
only in dance, but also in life. Today her former
students credit Lynn for helping them learn poise,
grace, self-esteem, etiquette, a dedication to hard
work, and the importance of caring for others. To
many she was a second mom.
At the time of her death, Lynn Bates was survived
by her sister, Lana Gean (Rodgers) Wynne (Houston,
TX) and nephew, George Parker Wynne, Jr., his wife
Abigail, and sons Andrew and Matthew; niece, Barbara
Nicole Wynne; brother, Robert Max Rodgers, Jr. wife
Donna Marie (Houston, TX), niece, Katy Marie Rodgers
and nephew Robert Max Rodgers III and his daughter
Vanessa Marie.