Homer E. Bates, 92, of Bluffton, and former Wells County and Huntington County resident for many years, passed away Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 15, 2016, at River Terrace Retirement Community.

Born in Nevada, Iowa, on Dec. 4, 1923, to Clarence E. and Gladys L. (Birney) Bates, Homer married Helen I. Roudebush on April 22, 1950; she preceded him in death on Nov. 2, 2005.

Homer graduated from East Union High School in 1941 and in 1942, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and started training that led to being a left gunner on the B-29 Bomber in Pratt, KS. In Feb. of 1944, as part of the 20th Air Force, 58th Bomb Wing, 40th Bomb Group (his new crew), was selected to fly to Boling Air Force Base in Washington D.C. for a presidential review.

His aircraft was the #303 Typhoon MeGoon III, which flew to Chakulia, India, which is known as the China, Burma, India Theater, for bombing missions to Japanese occupied territories and supply missions over the Himalayas to Hsinching, China. In 1945, his bomb wing left China for a new base on Tinian, Mariana Islands for the last 15 missions of his 33 completed missions in the final bombing raids on Japan. He also flew on the B-29 Shoot Your Faded, The Outlaw, Comfort Revenge, Patches, Dark Eyes, and two unnamed B-29s.

For his service, Homer was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Silver Star and one Bronze Star, for participating in Air Offensive Japan, Central Burma, China Defensive, Indian Burma, Western Pacific, and Air Combat Campaign.  He also received the World War II Victory Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation Emblem with two oak leaf clusters, Aviation Badge "Aircrew Member".

Upon returning after WWII, Homer farmed as a share cropper and ran a small dairy for nine years.  In 1953 he enlisted in the Indiana Air National Guard, in which he served for 28 years. He served one of those years as active duty status, in Europe, during the Berlin Crisis, in 1961 to 1962.

Homer was a member of the Markle United Methodist Church and Ossian United Methodist Church.  He was also a member of the Gideons International Wells County Camp., American Legion Post 111, Disabled American Veterans, and the Distinguished Flying Cross Society.  He enjoyed working in his yard and gardening.  He and his wife Helen always looked forward to mission work trips in Texas and Oklahoma.  They also enjoyed several guided mystery trips and cruises.

Survivors include his children, Bruce (Corina) Bates of Cincinnati, OH, Tom (Lisa) Bates of Ossian, Jill (Stan) Horton of Peru, Tim Bates of Ft. Wayne, and Janis (Bill) Mettler of Bluffton; 12 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents and wife, Homer was preceded in death by a son, Bevin P. Bates, and a brother, Marion Bates.

Visitation will be Friday, Nov. 18, 2016, from 3:00 until 8:00 PM, at Goodwin – Cale & Harnish Memorial Chapel in Bluffton.  Services will be held Saturday, Nov. 19, at 10:30 AM, at the funeral home, with one hour of visitation prior to the service.  Chaplain Jerry Qualls will officiate.  Burial will be at Markle Cemetery with military graveside rites provided by the United States Air Force in conjunction with the American Legion Post 111 of Bluffton.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Ossian United Methodist Church or Gideons International.