William “Bill” Dewey Bateman, 85, of Washington, died at 11:38 a.m. Friday at Daviess Community Hospital.
Born March 21, 1924, in Wheatland, he was the son of Sherman and Ocie (Evans) Bateman.
A graduate of Plainville High School, he was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and served aboard the USS Venus in the South Pacific. He attended Bethany Christian Church. He was a farmer, had worked for Ward City Lumber and drove a school bus for over 25 years. An avid basketball fan, he was a varsity high school basketball referee for many years.
He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Tim and Debbie Bateman of Washington; two stepsons and their wives, Arlen and Cathy Winkler and Jim and Jill Winkler, all of Washington; a stepdaughter and her husband, Suzanne and Scott Kern of Bloomington; one granddaughter, Crystal Kiltz of Washington; two great-grandchildren; Aransas and Jaydin Pendley of Washington; six stepgrandchildren, Jordan, Garrett, Lauren, Kevin and Morgan Winkler of Washington and Nathan Kern of Bloomington; two brothers, George Bateman, his twin, of Greenfield and Earl Bateman of Washington; two sisters, Jody Eaton of Washington and Betty Haskins of Odon; and many nieces and nephews.
His wife, Merriel (Hedge) Bateman, whom he married in 1977, died Jan. 20, 1991. One son, Jeff Bateman; three brothers, Arthur, Woody and Quinton Bateman; and four sisters, Alma Balin, Pearl Hall, Aileen Miller and Mildred Williams, are also deceased.
The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Gill Chapel, with Bro. Matt Merold officiating. Burial will be in Bethany Cemetery, with military graveside rites conducted by the American Legion and V.F.W.
Visitation is from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and after 9 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Condolences may be made to the family online at www.gillsince1872.com.
(Feb. 5, 2010)
