Joseph William "Joe" Yates

Joseph William Yates departed this life on Thursday, March 7th at the Village of Lebanon in Marion County. He was born in Washington County, June 13th, 1941, a proud son of Fredericktown (“The Burg”), where longtime residents know him as J.W.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Estelle Yates, by a sister, Betty Clements, and by a beloved grandson, Phoenix Bell-Yates.

After serving as a military policeman in the Air Force from 1960 through 1964, Joe began work as a utility lineman for Kentucky Utilities in Marion County in 1965. He retired from the company 35 years later as a local manager. After briefly working for Salt River Electric in Bullitt County, he retired home to Washington County in 2003.

He is survived by his wife, Rita Rich Yates, a daughter Cindy Mattingly (Todd), and sons Steve Yates (Beth Workman), Fred Rowe (Bridget), and Christopher Rowe, brothers Donnie Yates (Diane), Richie Yates (Mary Ann), sisters Wanda Osborne (Joe), Judy Mattingly, Marilyn Schuler, and Glenda Jackson (Gerry), six grandchildren, Sarah Smith (Rob), Stuart Mattingly (Bobbi), Brad Mattingly (Paige), Nolan Yates, William Rowe, and Cooper Yates, and six great-grandchildren Beau Smith, Gareth Mattingly, Delanie Mattingly, Owen Mattingly, Gray Smith, and Rhett Mattingly.

Visitation will be held 4:00-8:00 P.M. Tuesday, March 12th at Hale-Polin-Robinson Funeral Home, with prayer service at 5:00 pm. Funeral services will be held 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, March 13th, at St. Rose Priory Church, officiated by Father Pier Girogio Dengler. Interment will follow at the Holy Trinity Cemetery in the Burg.

Pallbearers: Stuart Mattingly, Brad Mattingly, Nolan Yates, Cooper Yates, William Rowe, and Rob Smith.

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