Gwendolyn Bates

Gwendolyn Bates was born April 11th, 1952, in Vredenburgh, Alabama to Clemmie and Ella Braggs. She was the eldest of the family's four children, including sisters Esper and Patricia, and younger brother Bruce. While growing up, Gwen attended Cleveland public schools, including Patrick Henry Junior High School and Glenville High School, where she graduated in January of 1971. While in high school she began working for a local pharmacist, and her interest in healthcare began. After graduation she decided to attend the University of Akron, later transferring to Kent State University where she majored in Community Health.

While attending KSU, Gwen spent her summers working at University Hospitals. When Gwen graduated university in 1977, she returned to work at University Hospitals as a secretary. She would meet her future husband Reginald a year later in 1978, who also worked at University Hospitals. Gwen and Reginald married in 1980; it was also around this time that Gwen began her employment with the Ohio Department of Health, later managing the Women, Infants & Children Program. Gwen eventually found a passion for nursing and opted to enroll in nursing school. She completed her training at the Huron Road Hospital School of Nursing in 1985. In 1988, Gwendolyn and Reginald would welcome their only child, Brian. During her nursing career at UH, Gwen served as a registered nurse in clinical research, attained Advanced Clinical Nursing credentials (ACN), and in 1999 earned one of the most prestigious awards in the UH Health system; the Nursing Clinical Excellence Award. Due to illness, Gwen was forced to retire from University Hospitals after 20 years of service in 2005.

Gwen was a devout member of St. Phillip Lutheran Church, and later St. John Lutheran Church, throughout her lifetime. She truly adored her family and looked forward to preparing and hosting holiday meals for them as much as possible. She was an avid lover of music, including all things Motown, Whitney Houston, and Aretha Franklin. Most importantly she was a devoted and loving wife for 41 years to her late husband Reginald, and a wise, loving, and caring mother to her son Brian.

She leaves to mourn: her son Brian (Ashley), her sister Esper, nieces Amber, Melonee, and Rayna, and nephews Julian, Evan, Quentin, Myles, Eric, and Cameron. Gwen was preceded in death by her parents Clemmie and Ella, her siblings Bruce and Patricia (Pat), and her late husband Reginald Bates.