Maynard Ray Bates, 68, a veteran and longtime resident of Lompoc, Calif., died peacefully on Oct. 23, 2017, surrounded by his family after a long battle with cancer. He was born on Oct. 11, 1949, in Osceola, Ark., to John and Effie Bates.

Ray, as he was known to his friends, had a funny, often cantankerous personality but was also a loving, caring, and supportive husband, father, brother and friend. Ray was one of 11 children, including his twin sister, Mildred. He graduated from West Fork High School in West Fork, Ark., and enlisted in the Air Force in 1967, where he served with honor for 23 years. After retirement, he continued serving his country working as a contractor for Vandenberg Air Force Base's Aerospace program until his passing.

Ray is survived by his wife of 45 years, Linda Bates, his son and daughter-in-law, Ricky and Kimberly Bates, granddaughter Margaret Ray Bates, his brothers, William, Kenneth, Donald, Ronald, Jeff and Glenn, and sisters, Margaret, Mildred, Carolyn and Christine. He was preceded in death by his father, John, in 2006 and his mother, Effie, in 2008.

A memorial service will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28, at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary, 123 North A Street, Lompoc, Calif.