Wanda Bates

Wanda L. Bates, 75, Seneca, MO, passed into at 1:43 AM, Friday Sept. 2, 2011 at St. Johns (Mercy) Hospital in Springfield after an illness.  Wanda Louise Hoff was born March 1, 1936 in Joplin, MO the daughter of Francis and Geneva (Bailey) Hoff. Wanda had lived in the Seneca area all her life. She retired from the Seneca R7 School District where she was the secretary for the superintendant for 28 years.  Wanda was a member of the Seneca United Methodist Church, Canasta Club and loved cooking, fishing, quilting, gardening, traveling in the RV, golfing and especially spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Wanda married Alan K. Bates, Oct. 22, 1954 in Joplin, MO and he survives.  Additional survivors include two sons, Brad Bates, Carthage and Kent Bates, Seneca; one daughter, Kay Ethridge, Tulsa; two brothers, Dan Hoff, McKinney, TX and John Hoff, Charleston, SC; one sister, Linda Rogers, Seneca; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.  Funeral services under the personal direction of Campbell-Biddlecome Funeral Home, Seneca will be held at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, September 5, 2011 at the Seneca United Methodist Church with Truman Brady and Pastor Cynthia Royce officiating. Burial will be in the Seneca Cemetery with John Adams, Don Roark, Max Roark, Tom Conduff, Jared Miller and Evan Bates serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearer will be George Forest.  The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 PM, Monday at the funeral home.  In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society in care of the Campbell-Biddlecome Funeral Home, PO Box 380, Seneca, MO 64865.