HARRINGTON - Willis Darwin Kates, of Harrington, passed away Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011, after a short illness at Bayhealth Kent General Hospital in Dover. He was 63. He was born March 28, 1947, to the late Willis Kates and Audrey (Wix) Kates of Felton. He graduated from Harrington High School in 1965 and earned his bachelor's degree in Agricultural Mechanics and Engineering from the University of Delaware in 1970. After retiring from the Delaware Department of Transportation, Darwin enjoyed farming, attending auctions, and most recently, spending time in North Carolina's inner banks, where he and his wife had a vacation home. He owned standard-bred racehorses and was a member of the United States Trotting Association and the Delaware Standardbred Owners Association. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Carol Kates; a daughter, Angela Kates and her fiance, Frederick Shields, of Wilmington; two sisters, Sandra Daniel and her husband, Robert, of Felton and Connie McDowell of Frederica; a brother-in-law, James Council and his wife, Janet, of Dover; along with several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m., Friday, Jan. 21, 2011, at McKnatt, Carpenter & Baker Funeral Home, Harrington, where friends may call beginning at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Hollywood Cemetery, Harrington. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Harrington Ambulance Fund, 20 Clark St., Harrington, DE 19952.