Portland – Geneva C. Bates, 65, a resident of Cemetery Road, Monmouth, died Saturday, April 4, at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

She was born Jan. 5, 1944, in Richmond, the daughter of Waldo Harold and Belva A. (Burgess) Bickford. She graduated from Monmouth Academy in 1962. On June 8, 1963, she married Wendell W. Bates of Greene. She worked at Pratt Whitney in Connecticut for six years, she owned and operated “The Tinker Shop,” a woodworking business for 20 years, and for Robert B. Jackson in Monmouth since 1971.

She was a member of the East Monmouth Community Church. Geneva enjoyed traveling in their motor home, her trip to New Mexico, square and round dancing, gardening, helping her neighbors and community, but especially the time spent with her family.

She is survived by her husband, Wendell of Monmouth; her son, Wayne Bates and his wife, Becky, of Monmouth; her daughter, Wanda Letourneau and her husband, Gerry, of Windham; three grandchildren, twins Brock and Brie-Anna Bates and Nadine Letourneau; four brothers and their wives, Ralph W. and Toni Bickford Sr., of Leesburg, Fla., David S. and Carolyn Bickford of Litchfield, Alfred K. and Pam Bickford and Roger A. and Sharon Bickford also of Leesburg, Fla; and her sister-in-law, Jan Bickford of Leesburg, Fla; many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, Waldo and Belva Bickford.


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