~ IN MEMORY ~
Military veteran, NWA Capt. James Nelson Bates
March 24, 1938 ~ July 5, 2018
Word has reached us with the passing of RNPA member retired Northwest pilot
Captain James Nelson Bates, age 80. Captain Bates joined Northwest Airlines
12-06-1965. He is survived by his wife Caryl, their children and grandchildren,
plus many other friends, colleagues and family members.
To sign the online guestbook please visit the funeral home website at
For those wishing to send a personal note, whitepages lists the family
residence as
16033 E Cholla Drive, Fountain Hills AZ 85268-4437.
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
Obituary................
James N. Bates, age 80, passed away on July 5, 2018 after a courageous
battle with cancer.
He was born in Brookings, S.D, attended high school in Dawson, Minn. and
college at South Dakota State in Brookings, S.D. He met his wife Caryl of 58
years in Dawson and they were married March 19, 1960.
Jim joined the Marines in 1961 and received officers training in Quantico,
Va. before orders for flight training in Pensacola, Fla. He served in a
helicopter squadron for four and one half years. After leaving the military, he
was hired by Northwest Orient Airlines where he was employed for 30 years and
retired as a 747 captain.
When Jim wasn’t flying for the airline, his life revolved around aviation
by running a fixed base operation, serving in the Civil Air Patrol and helping
young aspiring pilots earn their license.
Jim is survived by his loving wife, Caryl; daughters, Jeanne (Michael)
Gronholm of Neenah, Wis. and Caren (Todd) Wilkinson of Knoxville, Tenn.; four
grandchildren and one great granddaughter, Brian Gronholm of Wichita, Kan.,
Heather (Sam) Alexander and Amelia of Knoxville, Tenn., Megan (Derek)
Thorsenston of Fargo, N.D. and Shelby Wilkinson of Knoxville, Tenn.; one brother
Doug (Sharilyn) Bates of Dawson, Minn. and many other loving relatives and
friends. Preceding him in death is his granddaughter, Jamie Wilkinson, his
parents, Gipson and Elsie Bates and nephew, Jedd Bates.
A memorial service will be 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 11, 2018 at Fountain
Hills Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to be given
to Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church, 13001 N. Fountain Hills Blvd, Fountain
Hills, AZ 85268.
----------------------------
From: RNPA News Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2018
12:01 PM
Subject: RNPA News: Jim Bates Has Flown West.
James Bates was born on March 24, 1938 and
passed away on Thursday, July 5, 2018.
James was a resident of Arizona at the time
of passing.
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