Obituary of Wilbur Oates

Wilbur (Buddy) Cooper Oates, 93, of Spring Hill, Florida, died peacefully on March 18, 2015, with his wife, Carolyn, by his side and a special cat on his lap. Born October 29, 1921, to Clarence Stanley Oates Sr. and Eva Pearl Oates of Winchester, Virginia, Buddy graduated from Handley High School in 1941 – after lettering on the Varsity basketball squad — and earned a Masters in Accounting in 1955 from Strayer College in Washington, DC. He served in the Navy as Storekeeper First Class during WWII, and worked for the Naval Facilities and Engineering Command in Washington until his retirement in 1977. After retirement, he continued an active life. An avid golfer, Buddy was a long-time member of International Golf and Country Club, winning many tournaments there before moving to Florida in 2001. He traveled to many varied domestic and foreign points of interest, dined and danced to his heart’s content, and played golf as much as he could. And at age 75 he decided to try parasailing! He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; his two children, Lawrence P. Oates of Annandale, VA, and Kathryn A. Oates of Napa, CA; a sister, Audrey Grimes of Winchester, VA; and a brother, Donald E. Oates of Augusta, GA. He was predeceased by his first wife and mother of his children, Madeline Pinga Oates of Providence, RI Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 at Advent Funeral Services, 7211 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA at 11:30 AM. Interment Fairfax Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to HPH Hospice, www.hph-hospice.org.