Walter Henry Gates

Walter Henry Gates, beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather and great grandfather left this world on Thursday October 8, 2009. Walter was born to Rufus Colburn Gates and Mildred Voigt Gates on August 4, 1922 in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. He later married Mary Ellen Yates on August 4, 1945 in Oklahoma City, Okla. Together they had four sons, Tom, Jerry, Steve, and Mike. Walt served in World War II as a naval aviator. After the military, he operated a small airport in Douglas, Wyo., and later was a corporate pilot in Fort Collins. He moved to Denver and completed a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Denver. He worked in Denver for IBM in computer programming. After a few years Walt and Mary Ellen moved to Climax, Colo., where Walt continued his work with computer systems. After two years Walt had enough of corporate life and moved his family to Leadville, Colo., where he opened and operated an A&W Root Beer stand. While in Leadville he built and managed a bowling center and ventured into the motel and restaurant business. He moved back to Fort Collins in 1973 where he acquired and remodeled the Holiday Inn on Mulberry Street. In 1975 he purchased the Coach House in Loveland and managed it with his son Jerry until its sale in 2000. Walter was an active Lifetime Achievement Award Winning Member of the Fort Collins Lions Club. He was a member of the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce for many years. Walt enjoyed many years of playing duplicate bridge he even played bridge on a beach in the Bahamas one year. His greatest joys were his family, friends, growing Orchids, Roses, African Violets and traveling. His travels included sailing with his wife Mary Ellen and his son Jerry on their own sailboat to the South Pacific. From cruising the Canals of Europe, Mary Ellen and Walt also explored New Zealand and Australia. They traveled throughout Central and North America. He loved the Rocky Mountains, fishing and spending time at his cabin in the Redstone Canyon, a place that holds many special memories to his surviving wife Mary Ellen, his sister Frances Lydia Geisick, son Tom and wife Cathy, son Jerry and wife Bonnie, four grandchldren Trina, Jeff, Jason and Lindsay, two step grandchildren Jonathan and Jennifer, one great grandchild Kylie and numerous valued extended family and friends. Walt enjoyed life to the fullest. Although we mourn him today he will never be forgotten. A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at Bohlender Funeral Chapel. Pastor Joel Kershaw will officiate. Interment with military honors by the Ft. Collins All Veterans Honor Guard will follow at Grandview Cemetery.