Anne B. Bates, 86 and a lifelong resident of Delaware County, passed away peacefully on July 27, 2012. She was the wife of the late William H. Bates and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William S. Blakeley, Jr.

Anne grew up in Chester. She graduated from The Agnes Irwin School. During the Summer of 1944, Anne worked on a farm near Kimberton, PA where she drove a team of horses bringing hay wagons to the barn, and there her love of farming and animals began. She received a BA in Animal Husbandry and a MA in Agricultural Journalism from the University of Wisconsin in 1950. Her first job was with the Farm Journal in Phila. In 1952, Anne married Bill Bates and moved to Arasapha Farm, in Edgmont Township. With her love of open space and farms, she helped form legislation to preserve open space throughout Delaware County. For this, she was awarded the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Award by President Bush in 1991. During the '80s Anne worked as a guide at the Brandywine Battlefield Historical site and could be seen in colonial garb working her spinning wheel. Anne's interests included spinning yarn, weaving, knitting caps and sweaters and taking care of the animals on the farm. Anne served on the board of directors for Sleighton Farms School for many years and was also Chairman of the Board of directors for the Delaware County Conservation District until her retirement in 2005. She was a lifelong member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Colonial Dames, the Rose Tree Gardners, the Junior League of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Weavers Guild. She was an active member of the Christian Community Church located in Devon, PA. Anne was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who will always be remembered for the homemade cocoa she would serve on cold, winter days.

Mrs. Bates is survived by her daughters Marie B., wife of Peter C. Boisvert of West Chester, Martha B., wife of Tony Striedieck of Phoenixville; one son Randy B., husband of Anne M. Bates of Gradyville; grandchildren Angela Bates Majewski, William A. Bates, Kathryn Minacci, Veronica Brown, Benjamin Bates, Diana Bates and Sarah Striedieck, and eight great-grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Christian service at Camp Hill Village Kimberton Hills, 1601 Pughtown Road, Kimberton, PA 19442 on Sunday, July 29th at 3:00 PM. Officiating will be Rev. Marcus C. Knausenberger . A memorial service will take place on Saturday, August 4, 2012 at the Minshall Shropshire-Bleyler Funeral Home, 608 S. Old Middletown Road, Media, PA 19063 at 11:00 AM.Visitation will be held from 9:00-11:00 AM at the funeral home. Burial will follow in the West Laurel Hill Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by the Campbell-Ennis-Klotzbach Funeral Home, Inc., Phoenixville. Condolences may be offered online by visiting www.PhoenixvilleFuneralHome.com.