Virginia L. Bates, 85, of Sioux City, passed away on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at a local hospital. Services will be held 11:00 am Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at the United Methodist Church in Hinton, Iowa. A visitation will be held from 4-7 with a prayer service at 7:00 pm, Monday, April 17, 2017 at Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City. Burial will be at a later date.

Virginia was born on July 27, 1931 in Sioux City, the daughter of John and Carrie (Beeney) Bennett. She graduated from Central High School in Sioux City.

Virginia Bennett met and 3 months later married the love of her life, Lowell Bates on December 4, 1952. To this union, 3 children were born, 5 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren. Virginia was known to be a homemaker, but she also held various jobs throughout the years. She was employed at Woolco department store, Bekins Furniture Store, Remsen Union cafeteria, Happy Siesta Nursing Home, was the co-owner of the V & L Café, and the manager of Mets Apartments and Morning Hills Apartments. Her favorite and most important job came later in life, spending time with her grandkids. Virginia would attend as many school & sporting events for the grandchildren as she could, and she was most often the loudest in the crowd!

Virginia will be loved and remember by her three children, Larry (Kathy) Bates, LeeAnn Fox, and Steve Bates all of Sioux City; five grandchildren, Brad (Mary Beth) Bates, Brent (Ashley) Bates, Brock Bates, Grady and Katie Fox; 5 beautiful great grandchildren; brother Bill Bennett of Cleveland, OH; sisters, Shirley Muecke of Sheldon, IA; brother-in-law, Kenny (Sue) Bates of Florida; sisters-in-law, Opal Harrison of Sioux City and Doris (Gordon) Arndt of Hinton; and many nieces and nephews.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; sister Bonnie, husband, Lowell; and son in law, Kenny Fox.

Special thanks to the amazing doctors and nurses at Mercy Medical Center for their loving care and support.