VINALHAVEN – Paul M. Bates Sr., 85, died Tuesday, May 17, 2011, with his wife, Betsy Dickinson Bates, by his side at Penobscot Bay Medical Center, Rockport. He was born in Boston, the son of George R. and Florence (Doherty) Bates of West Roxbury, Mass.
Paul attained the rank of sergeant in World War II, where he served in the U.S. Army 3rd Air Cargo Resupply in the China, India and Burma campaigns. Soon after his discharge he began work with Boston University Police Department until he retired as chief of police after some 40 years. He later joined Wellesley College Police Department and retired as chief of police. In 1992 Betsy and Paul moved to Vinalhaven, where Paul served with Vinalhaven Fire Department as fire police one until his death. He loved Vinalhaven with its close, caring community.
Paul is survived by his wife, Betsy Dickinson Bates of Vinalhaven; his sons, Paul M. Bates and his wife, Dale, of Georgetown, Mass., Roy Bates and Jeffry Bates of Salem, Mass.; granddaughters, Lisa DiPietro and her husband, Bob, and their daughter, Skylar, and Pauline Fabiano and her husband, Jeff, and their children, Jack and Autumn; and his brother, Roy Bates of Braintree, Mass. He will also be missed by Betsy’s nieces, Michelle Fuerst and her fiance, Ed Kozuba, Nicole Lamont and her husband, Alonzo, and Julie Beck and her husband, Bob, and their children, Bobby, Ryan and Amelia; a special friend, who was like a daughter, Carrie Tribucco and her husband, Jack, and their son, Sam and Kelsey Tribucco, who was Paul’s goddaughter.
A service celebrating Paul’s life will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, June 11, at Union Church, Vinalhaven, with a luncheon immediately after. Memorial donations may be made to Vinalhaven Firemen’s Association, P.O. Box 815, Vinalhaven, ME 04863 or Humane Society of Knox County, P.O. Box 1294, Rockland, ME 04841. Arrangements are with Long Funeral Home, 9 Mountain St., Camden. Condolences, photos and memories may be shared with the Bates family by visiting their book of memories at
www.longfuneralhomecamden.com.