In Memory
Harrold J. Bates
Jul 8, 1908 - Sep 16, 1973
Harrold J. Bates, 65, of 322 Forest Hill Drive, WL, retired Fairfield Manufacturing Co. superintendent, died at 10 Sunday in Home Hospital. He had been ill. four months and was admitted to the hospital Wednesday.
He was born in South Bend and was married in Lafayette in 1930 to Felicia V. Schaibley, who survives. He graduated from. Purdue University with a B.S. degree in chemical engineering in 1929 and was the first graduate with the metallurgical engineering option degree.
He was employed after graduation as assistant works metallurgist with West PullWorks International Harvester Co., Chicago. He came to Lafayette in 1936 as Fairfield's first full-time chief metallurgist. He was promoted in 1949 to superintendent of metallurgy and inspection, retiring in. July. His responsibilities at Fairfield included inspection and quality control.
He was elected this year to a life membership, after 44 years of membership, to the American Society for Metals and two years ago was elected an Honorary Fellow ASM. He was a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, formerly chairman of the Iron and Steel Technical Committee and the General Materials Council, a member of American Society for Testing Materials, the Lafayette Country Club, Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, John Purdue Club, former treasurer of Greater Lafayette Community Fund and was vice president of the board of directors of the Indiana Alpha Chapter Sigma Phi Epsilon Social Fraternity Alumni Corp. He was a member of St. James Lutheran Church and active in its affairs treasurer of the educational fund, treasurer of the Greater Lafayette Lutheranism committee, former chairman of the church's board of Christian Education and former member of the Church Council Finance Committee, former chairman of Every Member Canvas and former chairman of Stewardship committee.
Surviving with his wife are one son, Richard S. Bates of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., one daughter, Mrs. James (Jane) Willett of Indianapolis and one brother, Donald C. of South Bend
Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com and FindAGrave.com
10/22/2025 EJS
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