Jesse Edward Oates Sr

December 8, 1928 - April 27, 2017 Jesse Edward Oates Sr., 88, of Mooresville, passed away on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at Greenville Memorial Hospital in Greenville South Carolina. He was born on December 8, 1928 in Pickens County, SC, to the late William Rufus Oates and Lillie Southerland Oates. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his beloved wife, Elizabeth Sides Oates; sister, Kitty McAlister, and brother James William Oates. He is survived by his sons, Jesse Edward (Pam) Oates, Jr. of Central, SC and William Ray (Gwyn) Oates of Easley SC; daughter, Deborah Leigh Oates of Powdersville S.C.; sisters, Patricia (Ray) Soubeyroux of Mt. Pleasant SC; Barbara (Johnny) Sue Smith of Easley SC; six grandchildren, Jesse Ryan, Patrick Wilson, William Justin, Jordan Brown and Jillian Lynne Oates and Tara Beth Oates Vasquez; and twelve great grandchildren, Jesse Ryan, Charles Lee, Oliver Henry, Eliot Thatcher, Silas David, Samuel Levi, Kristina Ashlynne Nichole, Kaelyn Reese, Kendall Elizabeth, Jackson Brown, and Carson Roy Oates and Bethel Ann Vasquez. Jesse served in the United States Army as First Lieutenant. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and fought in the Korean War. He graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Mathematics. He was also a retired territory manager for The BF Goodrich Tire and Rubber Company. He was active in the Troutman Methodist Men and also The Troutman Lions Club. He was also a Mason. A private family burial will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at the Troutman 1st United Methodist Church Cemetery. The memorial service will begin at 4:00 at Troutman 1st United Methodist Church with the Rev. Mike Carr officiating. The family will receive friends after the service. Memorials may be made to Troutman First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 717, Troutman, NC 28166 or Troutman Lions Club, c/o Mike Folliard, 224 Lytton Farm Rd., Troutman, NC 28166. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.troutmanfuneralhome.com. Troutman Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements for Jesse Oates Sr.