Rev. Allen E. Bates, 77, of Etowah, died Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, at Woods Memorial Hospital.A native of Williston, S.C., he was a member of North Etowah Baptist Church. He was a graduate of North Greenville College, Furman University and New Orleans Seminary. He was a Baptist pastor for 54 years in South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. His hobbies included working in his garden, smoking BBQ, watching college football, fishing and vacationing in Jekyll Island, Ga.A son of the late James and Carrie Louise Bates, he was preceded in death by one son, Bryan Allen Bates; and one brother, Joe Bates. The passion in his life was taking every opportunity to share Christ with others and see them come to know his Lord. He loved people and loved serving them. Survivors include his wife, Nancy Bates of Etowah; two daughters and one son-in-law, Deb Bates (46 years old) of Knoxville, and Andrea (41) and Michael (42) Battel of Etowah; two grandchildren, Laura (16) and Elaina (12) Battel of Etowah; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Bruce and Linda Bates of Williston, S.C., and Bob and Linda Bates of Orangeburg, S.C.; and one sister, Betty Bates of Blackville, S.C. Funeral services will be 7 p.m. Saturday at Bordwine Funeral Home with the Rev. Lewis Metts and the Rev. Arnold King officiating. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 1 p.m. Sunday and will proceed to Green Hill Cemetery for the 2 p.m. burial.Pallbearers will be Bob Bates, Bruce Bates, Michael Battel, Bobby Jones, Bob Lambert and Wayne Rutherford.The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.In lieu of Flowers, memorial contributions may be made in the name of Allen Bates to Reaching Out, Inc., a non-profit Christian organization formed for support of God's work in India, P.O. Box 902, Athens, TN 37371, or www.lovereach.org

Bordwine Funeral Home of Etowah is in charge of arrangements.