John Wilburn Gates

John Wilburn Gates passed away on February 25, 2026, at the home of his younger sister, Jean Gates Ross and her husband, Dean, in Aiken, South Carolina. This last year under home hospice care allowed them to have much quality time together. His ashes will be interred in Southfork Cemetery near Gurdon, Arkansas, adjacent to his parents and near many generations of his mother’s family.

John was born in Forrest City, Arkansas, on March 2, 1945, to Elisha “Bill” Gates and Juanita (Mullings) Gates. His family moved to Gurdon, Arkansas, early in his life. John graduated from Gurdon High School. He then attended the University of Arkansas for two years before joining the Navy during the Vietnam War. He served six years, achieving the rank of Lieutenant. He then returned to his education, receiving a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of AR at Little Rock. He later attained his master’s in business from the University of California in San Francisco. He spent his career working for the states of California and Oregon as a commercial property appraiser. John then moved to Glenwood, Arkansas, during his parents last few years to be of help to them.

John was preceded in death by his parents and his older sister, Janice Gates Ingram, and her husband, Jim.

He is survived by his younger sister and brother-in-law, above, and his older brother, William “Bill” Gates and wife Suzy of McKinney, Texas. The nieces and nephews number 27 and include grands and great grands.