David M. Bates, died Saturday, April 6, 2013, at the age of 88. Dave and his wife Dorothy were active in the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) for more than 50 years.
A native Virginian, Dave served as club archivist for two separate six-year periods and authored two definitive histories of past PATC activities and accomplishments. In addition, both he and Dorothy were responsible for maintaining a section of the A.T. while looking after his family’s printing business in Arlington, VA.
At the March 1991 meeting, PATC Council voted to bestow Honorary Life Memberships on both Dave and Dorothy. Dave’s books were placed in each PATC cabin. After his retirement, he and Dorothy moved to Avon Lake, Ohio, where they spent their last years.