June C. Bates, a resident of Ormond Beach, Florida, passed away on January 14, 2026, at the age of 97. Born on July 17, 1928, in Schenectady, New York, she was the beloved daughter of William and Edna Close. June graduated from Galway High School in Galway, New York, in 1946.
June moved to Ormond Beach from Collegeville, Pennsylvania, in 1976. Her professional journey included working at General Electric Co. in Schenectady, New York, and Keyser Miller Ford in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. She retired in 1993 as the bookkeeper from the family business, Bates Insurance Agency, Inc.
She was an active member of the United Methodist Church and the American Legion Auxiliary in Galway, New York, as well as the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) and the "Aberdeen Singles" in Ormond Beach, Florida. During World War II, she served as a Volunteer Aircraft Spotter in the Ground Observation Corp.
June had a passion for country music, dancing, world travel, and RV’ing. She was an avid reader and had a love for cats.
June was predeceased by her husband, C. Kenneth Bates, with whom she shared 52 years of marriage; and her brother, Paul Close of Amsterdam, New York.
She is survived by her son, Robert K. Bates, and daughter-in-law, Deborah, of Ormond Beach, Florida; her granddaughter, Cynthia Lee Bates of Austin, Texas; and her beloved cat, Daisy.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Halifax Humane Society, 2364 LPGA Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32124.
