Extracted from The Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)
Monday, November 22, 1943

Joe W. Bates Dies Sunday
City Postmaster Dies After Long Illness

Joe W. Bates, who has been postmaster here since August 2, died early Sunday morning at his home 2236 Ovid street, after an extended illness.

The body is resting at Rabenhorst Funeral home, and services will be held there at 11 o'clock this morning with the Rev. Phillip P. Wedlein of St. James Episcopal church officiating. The remains will be shipped to Memphis, Tenn. for creamation [sic cremation], and burial will take place here later in the week.

Bates, who was 51-years old, had been ill for several months. He died at 6:40 a.m.

Bates was appointed postmaster on August 2 to succeed R. L. Pettit, who resigned. He had been serving as a deputy sheriff at the time of his appointment. He had served for six montha as Baton Rouge chief of police in 1939, and except for that interim was a member of the State Police force for 11 years as chief of detectives. He was appointed a deputy sheriff in November, 1940.

Bates was the son of the late Capt. J. W. Bates and Mrs. Bates of Baton Rouge, and like his father he was active in politics throughout his life here. His father served as East Baton Rouge sheriff for 18 years. The Bates family was among the older residents of the city, and he was reared at the family home on Lafayette street.

He is survived by his wife, the former Mabel Jones; a brother, O. P. Bates of New Orleans, and a sister, Mrs. Maude Bates Armstrong of Baton Rouge.