- Date Of Birth: May 16, 1938
- Date Of Death: September 24, 2020
- State: Indiana
Mr. Wylie D. “Dave” Bateson, Jr., 82, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully following an extended illness at his home with his family at his side on Thursday, September 24, 2020 at 8:00 am. He was born in Oak Forest, PA, in the heart of steel country, on May 16, 1938 and was the son of the late Wylie D. and Margaret (Kerr) Bateson, Sr. On December 24, 1983, he married Georgia Hershberger, who survives him at home after 37 wonderful years together.
Along with Georgia, Dave is survived by his children David R. (Diamond) Bateson of Branford, FL, John M. (Amy Sue) Bateson of Granger, Sabrina L. (Frank) Mancuso of Mishawaka, Amy L. (Randy) Wood of Elkhart, Dawn M. Ryman of Lubbock, TX and Douglas M. (Tina) Ryman of Elkhart; sisters Margaret “Peggy” (Glenn) Zollars and Lynette (Walt) Richards, both of Jefferson, PA and Denise (Buddy) Hawk of Rice’s Landing, PA. Now, to say that Dave adored children was an understatement, and where most normal people would see chaos, grandpa Dave saw opportunity in teaching his beloved plethora of grandchildren lessons in “Life 101”.
They include grands Dane, Chelsi, Mariah, Aliesha, Kaylee, Chase, Chad, Nicki, Lea, Ashley, Canon, Taylor, Blayne, Kegan, Shelby, Lydia and Sophie, who was lovingly known by grandpa as “Soapy”, as well as great-grands Brody, Augist, Kole, Kaleb, Kaden, Elijah, Channing, DJ, Cameron, Calvin, Kingsley, Brinlee, Madison, Lucas, Alanah, Madden and three more on the way. No one could get away saying that Dave wasn’t thoroughly blessed with such a beautifully bountiful family. He is also survived by a host of loving extended family, good friends, fellow work associates, hunting buddies, fellow Pittsburgh Steelers fans AND players, his two fur babies Maxwell and Maggie Mae, and probably a small collection of shady characters that the family is unable to explain. Preceding him in death are his brothers Kermit, Stanley, and Phil Bateson, as well as sisters Joetta Reed and Annabelle Haines
Pastor Jim Brown and Dave’s church family at Grace Community Church, 20076 CR 36, Goshen, will host a gathering of family and friends on Sunday, September 27, 2020 from 4-8 pm at the church. A funeral service will follow there on Monday, September 28, 2020 at 11:00 am with visitation one hour prior. In accordance with Dave’s wishes, cremation will follow services.
Dave worked as a buyer and seller of steel and steel products most of his adult life, and believe it or not, was actively brokering steel up until his health required his retirement in 2019. Labeled early on as a man who saw the value of hard work and one’s word, Dave seldom rested. He started out as a heavy equipment operator in Pennsylvania and then he got into the steel industry. During that time of his life, Dave worked with a company program that provided him regular access to the Pittsburgh Steelers NFL football team during the 1970’s dynasty years. He became personal friends with players like Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swann, “Mean” Joe Green, and Franco Harris, who was his hunting buddy (and arch enemy of Dave’s late sister Joetta, who once chased Harris out of their house with a broomstick). David had enjoyed the game of football since his “glory days” in high school where he excelled on his team, and it followed him the rest of his life. Obviously, he was also a rock-solid, die-hard devout Steelers fan as well, and always cherished his close affiliation with the team.
Dave also loved to hunt and spent many a fall day in a tree stand or blind, gun in hand. His reputation of his superior marksmanship generally preceded him and was rumored to be on the game warden’s “short list”. He actively passed his love for the hunt on to his children, who, in turn, passed it on to theirs. “Generous, faithful and committed” were the words used by his Pastor Jim when describing Dave, emphasizing his solid Christian spirit and his deep love for people, although the “old poop” generally wouldn’t admit to that.
He was a lifetime member of the NRA and the North American Hunting Club, loved to vacay at Ocean City, NJ with his beautiful bride Georgia, and enjoyed giving to the orphanage charities at church. He also served in the US Air Force reserves. Above all else, Dave will be best remembered for seeing to it that everyone else was taken care of before he tended to himself.
