Donald William Yates, Sr.

Donald William Yates, Sr. Donald William Yates, Sr. 87, died peacefully in his Spartanburg, South Carolina home on April 5 ending his courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Born on Nov 6, 1934 in Burlington, NC to the late George Henry and Marie Yates; Don grew up in Hopewell, Virginia. In 1957, Don graduated from the University of Richmond where he was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity, the US Air Force ROTC and played tenor sax in the marching and dance bands. On a snowy Valentine’s Day 1960 he married Connie Jennings of Roanoke, VA. As a Captain in the US Airforce, they lived in Saint-Mihiel, France and Tirrenia, Italy, helping to create the excitement and adventure of new places, which he carried with him to his children and grandchildren. Don graduated from the Harvard Business School in 1965 and moved to Spartanburg, SC. During his career of financial management, he worked for Milliken Inc., Concept Inc, Hoechst/Celanese, served on the board of the National Recycling Congress, and founded Carolina Consultants, Int’l. His tenure as Financial Advisor to the Carolina Panther’s owner gave him the opportunity to share his football enthusiasm with family and friends. Teaching and working with young people was Don’s passion and he was beloved by his students. He taught at USC-Spartanburg / USC-Upstate’s School of Business and helped organize and teach in the Limestone College Business School evening program for professionals. Presenting his publications at conferences in places such as Paris, Venice, Athens, and Santorini provided a few of the pit stops to his and Connie’s world travels. Since 1965 Don was a leading member of Fernwood Baptist Church. He served as Chairman of the Deacons, Cub Master of Pack 118, teacher, and leader of youth groups for many years. Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Connie and sons, Donald William Yates, Jr. of Austin, TX, David Jennings Yates (Jennifer) of Spartanburg, SC, Scott Merritt Yates (Claudia) Herndon, VA and six grandchildren, Donald Yates III, Julia Yates, Andrew Yates (Lauren), Marley Yates, Brandon Yates, and Hunter Yates. Two great-granddaughters Margot Yates and Charlotte Yates. Visitation will be Saturday, April 9th from 2:30 to 3:45 with services at 4:00 in the sanctuary of Fernwood Baptist Church, 200 Fernwood Drive, Spartanburg, SC with the Rev. Matt Johnson and Rev. Dr. Randy Wright officiating. Interment will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Upstate Foundation for the Donald W. Yates Endowed Scholarship at 800 University Way, Spartanburg, SC 29303 or to Fernwood Baptist Church, PO Box 7058 Spartanburg, SC 29304. The family wishes to thank Misti Small and other staff of Kindred Hospice for their years of devoted service. Our gratitude to Sonya Genovese and Pam Boyea for their kind and loving care through this journey. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.jmdunbar.com Dunbar Funeral Home & Crematory