Frederick Blanton Oates, Jr.

Spartanburg, SC- Frederick (Fred) Blanton Oates Jr. died August 22, 2016 at the age of 93. He was blessed to have lived a full and happy life and will be remembered for his generous nature, strength of character, and unique, humming laugh. Fred was a friend to everyone and always a gentleman. A rare gem, he will be greatly missed. Fred was born in Spartanburg, S.C. on June 28, 1923 to the late Kate Montgomery Oates Ward of Spartanburg, South Carolina and the late Frederick Blanton Oates of Asheville, North Carolina. He was predeceased by his wife, Irene (Tena) McNulty Oates of Columbia and later, Spartanburg, South Carolina. He is survived by his two daughters, Irene Oates Howell and Kate Oates Dargan, Kate’s husband, John; and his three grandchildren, Anna Marion Howell, John Bachman Hodge Dargan Jr. and Irene Claire McNulty Howell, all of Spartanburg. He is also survived by two sisters, Betty Oates Gage and Lalage Oates Warrington, and a brother, Walter Montgomery Oates and wife Julia. Blessed with a large and close family, Fred also leaves behind many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews. Fred attended Episcopal High School and Baylor Military Academy, later enrolling in Vanderbilt University and then the Naval V-12 Program at Emory University. He graduated as an ensign from Northwestern University and received orders to enter the Scouts and Raiders Program in Fort Pierce, Florida as part of Roger 3, a secretive WWII operation. Today’s Navy Seals trace their origins to this rigorous naval program. Following Scouts and Raiders training, Fred served on LCT (landing and amphibian craft) ships, later becoming Captain. He had the pleasure of being stationed in New York City on V-J Day in 1945. After his release in 1946 from the Navy, Fred worked for Pacific Mills in Columbia, South Carolina and Halifax Virginia, returning to Spartanburg to work for Spartan Petroleum and later Odom Oil Company. In 1959 he started Oates Oil Company as a heating oil and fuel delivery business. The business grew to include service stations and country grocery stores. He was an area pioneer in transforming what were once called “filling stations” into local convenience stores called Minimart Food Stores, which he operated for forty years. Fred was also one of the first businessmen to incorporate restaurants within convenience stores, with Aunt M’s having a reputation as “the best fried chicken in town”. One of Fred’s favorite endeavors was painstakingly modernizing the Montgomery Building, which he bought in 1969. He succeeded in his goal of bringing the building to full occupancy. Without this renovation, the building may not have survived. The building was sold in 1999 and remains an important part of Spartanburg’s history. Fred was an active member and volunteer in both the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and The Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness in Flat Rock, North Carolina. He served as a volunteer in his community throughout his life. The family will be at the home of Kate and John Dargan between 4:00-8:00 pm on Tuesday August 23nd. A graveside service will be held in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens on Wednesday August 24th at 11am, conducted by The Reverend J. Edward Morris. A reception celebrating Fred’s life will follow. In remembrance of Fred, memorials can be made to the Tena and Fred Oates Foundation at the Spartanburg County Foundation, 424 E. Kennedy St., Spartanburg, SC 29302 or the Episcopal Church of the Advent Foundation, 141 Advent St. Spartanburg, S.C. 29302.