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Dale A. Bates, 74, of Poolesville, died Oct. 9, 2009, of complications of cirrhosis of the liver at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda.

Born July 17, 1935, in El Dorado, Ariz., he was a son of the late Jesse E. and Elizabeth F. Bates.

He was the husband of Zannie E. Bates.

Mr. Bates enlisted in the U.S. Navy following his graduation from El Dorado High School and worked in radar and communications for five years. Following his discharge, he attended Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, La., and graduated with honors from the schools of Electrical Engineering & Business.

After graduation he worked with Chrysler Space Division and was involved in making the booster rockets for the first trip to the moon. Later he worked with Lockheed Georgia Company. Later his career took him to Silver Spring, where he worked for Vitro Lab for 22 years. He retired from Boeing Company in 2004.

Survivors in addition to his wife include three children, Chandra McCall of Poolesville, Barry Bates of Martinsburg, W.Va., and DeeAnn Patrick of Lawrenceville, Ga.; four brothers, Jim Bates of Amarillo, Texas, Herb Bates of Lacey's Spring, Ala., Robert Bates of El Dorado, Ariz., and Neal Bates of Houston, Texas; two sisters, Marilyn Foord of El Dorado, Ariz., and Barbara McGuff of Cordova, Ala.; and six grandchildren.

A private funeral service was held Oct. 12 at Hilton Funeral Home in Barnesville. The Rev. Ken Fitzwater and the Rev. Dan Cotter led the service. Another service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery.