George Arthur Yates, 82

FREDERICA - George Arthur Yates of Frederica passed away Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, in his home. He was 82.

Mr. Yates was born in Princeton, Maine, son of the late Arthur R. and Ruby E. (Cousins) Yates.

Mr. Yates was a U.S. Air Force veteran, serving from 1948-71, and honorably discharged as a senior master sergeant in 1971. He served as a flight engineer with the Air Force for 26 years.

Mr. Yates was a member of the American Legion Post 2, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6921 and a life member of the Disabled American Veterans.

He was also a member of the Frederica Senior Center and the Modern Maturity Center, Dover.

Mr. Yates loved new cars, good food, woodworking, cabinetry and gardening.

He was a member of St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Dover.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Josephine (Payant) Yates, in 1993.

Mr. Yates is survived by his wife of 12 years, Helen T. (Olsen) Yates; three children, Stephen J. Yates and wife Judy of Scottsdale, Ariz., Sallie A. Hall of Frederica and Mary Jo Yates of Dagsboro; six grandchildren, Erik Yates, Stephen Garvey, Katie Francis, Jerry Garvey, Meghan Johle and Daniel J. Hall; two great-grandchildren, Connor J. Hall and Hannah Garvey; a stepson, Donald A. Richardson Sr. of Seminole, Fla.; and three step-grandchildren, Brittany Richardson, Savannah Richardson and Donald A. Richardson Jr.

A funeral service will be 2 p.m. Sunday in the chapel of Berry-Short Funeral Home, 119 N.W. Front St., Milford, where friends may call one hour prior.

Burial with military honors will be in Barratt's Chapel Cemetery, Frederica.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Frederica Senior Center, 216 S. Market St., Frederica, DE 19946; or St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 425 N. Dupont Highway, Dover, DE 19901.