Springfield architect Alan Bates dies

Alan Bates, owner of architecture firm Bates & Associates Inc., died March 22 at Cox South following a stroke. He was 55.

Bates & Associates partner Steve Warlick succeeds Bates as president of the company.

"We have every intention to continue in his legacy and press forward," Warlick said of Bates & Associates' 10 employees. "That's what he would want to happen."

Bates was involved in design work at Chesterfield Village and for Price Cutter stores, CoxHealth and Missouri State University, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

According to an obituary posted online at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, Bates earned his architecture degree from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville in 1979 and returned to Springfield to join his father Warren Bates' architecture firm Bates & Associates. In 1999, Alan Bates assumed ownership of the firm, succeeding his father.

Bates was preceded in death by his parents and brother Mark Bates, and he is survived by his wife, Robyn Bates; his son, Cory Bates; his daughters Cristen, Cara and Laura Bates; and his stepdaughters Brynn, Ambyr and Bailey Bagby.

Visitation will be held 6 p.m.-8 p.m. tonight at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, 1947 E. Seminole St. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. March 25 at University Heights Baptist Church, 1010 S. National Ave. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Springfield nonprofit Lost and Found Grief Center, 1006 N. Cedarbrook Ave.[[In-content Ad]]