Walter Adolph Yates

Absent from the body, present with the Lord is our husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather Walter A. Yates died August 19, 2017 at Brookdale Center in Lake Charles, LA. Walter lived 91 years and they were good, productive years.

Walter was born Dec. 18, 1925 near the town of Epps, Louisiana to Walter Yates and Annie Newton Yates, and because of the untimely death of his father he grew up in the home of his maternal grandparents, Charles Adolph Newton and Laila Pickett Newton. This auburn haired baby was first called “Honey Boy” by his older and only brother Harold Carl Yates. The nickname followed him through Cypress Bayou Elementary and Delhi High School. He was drafted in 1944 and entered the U.S. Army and was sent to the Philippines, then to Japan where he was stationed near Tokyo, then was honorably discharged as a Tech Sgt and came back to Louisiana. He attended Southwest LA Institute (now ULL in Lafayette) for two years, then after being an auditor for a coffee company in New Orleans he came to Lake Charles, LA where he was employed at Conoco as an operator and also did pipe fitting and retired after 30 years.

Walter served as a leader in both youth and senior adult department and as a dean for over 56 years at First Baptist Church of Lake Charles then at Trinity Baptist Lake Charles. He loved his church families and always worked hard for his Lord.

He was lovable with his wit, brash personality, kindness and servant’s heart. We will miss his loving heart, his singing and whistling, his helpfulness and his ability to do for others. Heaven has received a “Godly Man”. We thank God for being a part of the life of Walter Yates.

Our Walter is survived by his wife of 63 years, Margaret Gene Ohlsen Yates, his two daughters and sons in law, Margaret Anne Yates Monroe and G. Randy Monroe and Peggy Ruth Yates Cline and Michael Cline, all of Lake Charles, LA. He was the proud, loving grandfather of his four grandsons, Joshua Ohlsen Monroe and wife Kaycie Book Monroe, Caleb Lee Monroe and wife Jamie Gauthreaux Monroe, Walter Randall Hammond and Andrew Carter Hammond. His special great grandsons, Cash Ohlsen Monroe, Hayes Alexander Monroe and Brady Paul Monroe brought many smiles during his long bout with dementia which claimed his life.

A funeral service will be held at 2PM on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at Johnson Funeral Home. Pastors Randy Monroe and Steve James will officiate. A private burial will follow at Highland Memory Gardens. Visitation will be 5PM to 8PM on Monday, August 21 at the funeral home. Visitation will continue Tuesday Noon to the start of the service at 2PM at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at ALZ.org.

Special thanks to the staff at Brookdale for their compassion and care while taking care of Walter.