William Harbart Bates

Mr. William Harbart Bates, III of Greensburg, Kentucky, son of the late William Harbart Bates, Jr and Grace Martin Bates, was born on August 26, 1941 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. He departed this life on Friday, June 13, 2025 at his residence with his wife by his side.

Most who loved and knew him affectionately called him “Buddy,” because he loved to laugh and make others laugh.

His entrepreneurial spirit can be traced back to a story from his childhood. At the age of 10, his neighbor contracted with him to solve a woodpecker problem. The birds were destroying his wooden gutters. At the price of a quarter a piece, he started to help his neighbor with his problem. However, seeing the problem was too big to tackle alone, and being a budding entrepreneur, he subcontracted to his friends to give them half of the going rate.

As a graduate of the University of Mississippi with a Master’s in Accounting, Buddy established three business colleges before becoming an executive in the telecommunications industry.

He had made a profession of faith in Christ and attended Egypt Christian Church.

He was a force within himself - kind, giving and loving. Buddy enjoyed life to the fullest from a young boy throughout his adult life as he traveled the world and made countless friends. His giving nature is best represented by his devotion of over 40 years as a Hosparus volunteer and a Court Appointed Special Advocate. Buddy was an avid reader and loved listening to Delta Blues.

He died the way he lived, appreciating all of life’s blessings even up to the very end of his 83 years on this Earth.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon Brockman Bates of Greensburg; two daughters and one son-law: Brandi Bates Brasher of Orange Beach, Alabama, and Britney Bates Karassick, and husband Steve, of Atlanta, Georgia; four grandchildren: John Sanford Brasher III, Blakely Bates Brasher, Brent William Karassick and Johsua Denton Karassick, one brother and sister-in-law: Christopher and Patty Bates of Lebanon, TN; in addition to a host of other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his stepdaughter, Melissa Brockman.

In honoring Buddy’s request, there will be no public services.

Arrangements are under the direction of Gupton - Landrum Funeral Home in Greensburg.

The family would like to express their gratitude for his caregivers over the past several months, Connie and Dannae, and the staff at Hosparus of Green River.