William Leon Gates, 63, of Greenwood, went home to be with the Lord early on the morning of Friday, June 5, 2020, at Community Hospital South in Indianapolis following a lengthy illness.
He was born on June 10, 1956, in Enid, Oklahoma, a son of Frank Leon Gates and Thelma Julia (Sandley) Hinds.
Bill grew up in the Beech Grove area and was in the first graduating class of the Nazarene Christian School in 1975. Bill contracted polio at one year of age and spent much time in the Shriner’s Children Hospital in Chicago. He was a very good-natured, tender, quiet, and reserved child, but also funny and full of mischief. He had a love for animals and hated to see them treated cruelly. He was kind-hearted and even natured. Bill worked for St. Francis Hospital in Beech Grove in Dietary for 30 years. He had a great work ethic and went 15 years without missing a single day of work. He had also worked part-time at Environmental Services.
Bill enjoyed fishing, building model cars, playing video games, and shopping for Antiques. When he was younger he loved playing basketball and flag football. He was a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and loved Larry Bird as well. He was the oldest child and loved his five crazy sisters.
Those left to cherish Bill’s memory include his loving mother, Thelma Hinds of Indianapolis; five sisters, Sandra (Charles) Murdick, Gloria (Ike) Northern, and Carla Shuck all of Indianapolis, Donna Alexander (fiance: Bob Benson) of Anderson, and Doris “Cupcake” Worley of Indianapolis; two uncles, Bill Sandley and Donald Hinds; an aunt, Kathy Hinds; 18 nieces and nephews; many great-nieces and great-nephews and many cousins and close friends, including Ronnie Wilkerson, Jeff Griffin, and Mike and Bill Sandley.
Bill was preceded in death by his biological father, Frank Gates; the father who raised him, Charles Hinds; paternal grandparents, Charles and Myrtle Gates and James and Elizabeth Hinds; maternal grandparents, Eugene and Beulah Sandley, and several aunts and uncles.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 am Thursday, June 11, 2020, at New Crown Cemetery, 2101 Churchman Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana, with Austin Shuck officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be offered to either a care fund being established for Bill’s loving mother, Thelma Hinds, whom he thought so much of. Donate to Thelma Hinds Care Fund or to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital by clicking here
The Sproles family and staff are honored to serve the family of William Leon Gates.