Harold Wadhams Gates
May 1, 1920 – July 2, 2022
Harold Wadhams Gates died peacefully at the age of 102 on July 2, 2022, in Sun City Center, Florida, where he and his wife Evelyn had happily made their home in recent years. He lived a long, full life, filled with family, a broad circle of friends and keeping up with scientific innovations.
He was born on May 1, 1920, to Edson and Edith Wadhams Gates in Ashland, Mass., where he attended schools and married his wife, Evelyn Kimball Gates, in 1944.
He was part of “the greatest generation” and served during WWII as an Army Air Corp pilot, flying a B24 Liberator out of the air base in Wending, England, bombing targets in Germany, where his final mission with the 392 bomber group was to target the city of Hallein, Austria, which was the supply chain to Hitler’s mountain retreat. After the end of the war, he talked rarely of war times and, instead, turned to family, education, work and community.
He graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in engineering in 1947 and worked in sales for Hosmer R. Kimball in Boston, Mass., for many years and then, later, for Flomatcher Inc., located in Corvallis, Oregon.
Married to Evelyn for 75 years, they enjoyed his lifetime hobby of flying his private plane, which brought them to travel the United States and Caribbean islands. He loved gardening, grandchildren and golf, and maintained discussions of current events with family and friends right up to his recent decline. A treasured message to his children reads, “I have regrets, there are things I wish I hadn’t done, things I should have done, many things I’m happy to have done, all in a happy lifetime.”
Harold is survived by his four children and their families, Beverly and Joseph Gracia, and their children, Caroline, Glynnis and Joseph; Wendell and Mary Elise Gates, and their children, Jeffrey and Kimberly; Carol and Michael Rice, and their daughters, Gretchen and Rebecca; Emily and Richard Brown, and their daughters, Carrie, Alison and Deborah. Harold’s family also includes 10 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his wife Evelyn in 2021.
The family offers their heartfelt appreciation to all who were so kind and caring to Harold these past years, especially Teresa Rowe-Wilson, his friend and long-time caregiver who has helped him respectfully and faithfully.
The family will honor his life privately.
In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to Ashland Emergency Fund, P.O Box 112 Ashland, MA 01721, Phone: 508-736-8892 or ashlandemergencyfund.org/.
‘“Since 1987, the AEF has been Ashland’s behind-the scenes, private place to which those in need have been able to turn for help.”
Matarese Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. of Ashland, Mass., has care of the arrangements. To extend online condolences, please visit mataresefuneral.com/.
<h3>Elaine Van Der Baan – Domroes</h3>
<img class="wp-image-36068 alignleft" src="/assets/images/uploads/wp/2022/07/Elaine-Van-Der-Baan-Domroes-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Elaine Van Der Baan – Domroes, age 94, of Ft. Myers, Fla., formerly of Sun City Center, Fla., passed away peacefully on May 24, 2022. She was born March 11, 1928, in Zeeland, Mich., to Charles Zeerip and Janet Kraai.
Elaine is preceded in death by her husband(s), David Domroes, married five years, and Donald Van Der Baan, married 61 years.
Elaine and Don moved to Sun City Center in 1995, where they were involved in golf; the German American Club; United Methodist Church of SCC, where they helped establish the Memory Garden; and many other social activities.
After being a widow for several years, Elaine found the second love of her life, David, and they together enjoyed golf; church activities, such as choir, at Redeemer Lutheran Church; and many social activities. After several years of being a widow again, Elaine moved to the Fort Myers area to spend time with family down there.
She is survived by two daughters, Dee Mac Donald and husband Paul, of Brandon, Fla., Lynda Whitman, and husband Glenn of Estero, Fla.; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 701 Valley Forge Blvd. in SCC on Saturday, July 23, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers you can send contributions, payable to USF Foundation, Inc. and mailed to USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Center and Research Institute, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd., MDC 70, Tampa, FL 33612, ATTN: Frank Koulianos.
He was born on May 1, 1920, to Edson and Edith Wadhams Gates in Ashland, Mass., where he attended schools and married his wife, Evelyn Kimball Gates, in 1944.
He was part of “the greatest generation” and served during WWII as an Army Air Corp pilot, flying a B24 Liberator out of the air base in Wending, England, bombing targets in Germany, where his final mission with the 392 bomber group was to target the city of Hallein, Austria, which was the supply chain to Hitler’s mountain retreat. After the end of the war, he talked rarely of war times and, instead, turned to family, education, work and community.
He graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in engineering in 1947 and worked in sales for Hosmer R. Kimball in Boston, Mass., for many years and then, later, for Flomatcher Inc., located in Corvallis, Oregon.
Married to Evelyn for 75 years, they enjoyed his lifetime hobby of flying his private plane, which brought them to travel the United States and Caribbean islands. He loved gardening, grandchildren and golf, and maintained discussions of current events with family and friends right up to his recent decline. A treasured message to his children reads, “I have regrets, there are things I wish I hadn’t done, things I should have done, many things I’m happy to have done, all in a happy lifetime.”
Harold is survived by his four children and their families, Beverly and Joseph Gracia, and their children, Caroline, Glynnis and Joseph; Wendell and Mary Elise Gates, and their children, Jeffrey and Kimberly; Carol and Michael Rice, and their daughters, Gretchen and Rebecca; Emily and Richard Brown, and their daughters, Carrie, Alison and Deborah. Harold’s family also includes 10 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his wife Evelyn in 2021.
The family offers their heartfelt appreciation to all who were so kind and caring to Harold these past years, especially Teresa Rowe-Wilson, his friend and long-time caregiver who has helped him respectfully and faithfully.
The family will honor his life privately.
In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to Ashland Emergency Fund, P.O Box 112 Ashland, MA 01721, Phone: 508-736-8892 or ashlandemergencyfund.org/.
‘“Since 1987, the AEF has been Ashland’s behind-the scenes, private place to which those in need have been able to turn for help.”
Matarese Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. of Ashland, Mass., has care of the arrangements. To extend online condolences, please visit mataresefuneral.com/.
<h3>Elaine Van Der Baan – Domroes</h3>
<img class="wp-image-36068 alignleft" src="/assets/images/uploads/wp/2022/07/Elaine-Van-Der-Baan-Domroes-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Elaine Van Der Baan – Domroes, age 94, of Ft. Myers, Fla., formerly of Sun City Center, Fla., passed away peacefully on May 24, 2022. She was born March 11, 1928, in Zeeland, Mich., to Charles Zeerip and Janet Kraai.
Elaine is preceded in death by her husband(s), David Domroes, married five years, and Donald Van Der Baan, married 61 years.
Elaine and Don moved to Sun City Center in 1995, where they were involved in golf; the German American Club; United Methodist Church of SCC, where they helped establish the Memory Garden; and many other social activities.
After being a widow for several years, Elaine found the second love of her life, David, and they together enjoyed golf; church activities, such as choir, at Redeemer Lutheran Church; and many social activities. After several years of being a widow again, Elaine moved to the Fort Myers area to spend time with family down there.
She is survived by two daughters, Dee Mac Donald and husband Paul, of Brandon, Fla., Lynda Whitman, and husband Glenn of Estero, Fla.; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 701 Valley Forge Blvd. in SCC on Saturday, July 23, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers you can send contributions, payable to USF Foundation, Inc. and mailed to USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Center and Research Institute, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd., MDC 70, Tampa, FL 33612, ATTN: Frank Koulianos.