Dr. Griffith Oates, long time Beaumont orthodontist, died Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at his home.
He is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Patsy Ruth Creekmore Oates; sons, Jay Cartwright Oates and his wife Jenny of Houston, William Griffith Oates and his wife Cindy of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Scott Creekmore Oates and his wife Kathleen of Corpus Christi; daughter, Laurel Elizabeth Oates Gonzalez and her husband Ozzie of Denver, Colorado; and eight grandchildren.
Griffith was the only child of Merlin and Ileta Griffith Oates, born on October 31, 1919 in Dallas. His father, a graduate of University of Texas, and mother, a graduate of Baylor University, lived in Dallas, San Antonio, Denver and Austin. After the untimely death of his parents when he was fifteen, Griffith lived with his grandmother, Jesse Singleton Griffith in Alpine where he attended Alpine High School and Sul Ross State Teachers College. Called to war, Griffith was stationed in Brazil where he served as a weatherman in the Army. After the war, he attended Baylor University Dental School where he met his future wife, cadet nurse, Patsy Ruth Creekmore. After their marriage on December 21, 1947, Griffith established a dental practice in Wichita Falls, Texas. Pat and Griff moved to Beaumont in 1953 where Griffith entered orthodontic preceptorship with Dr. Joseph Serafino. He practiced orthodontics successfully and with the respect of his peers until his retirement in 1990.
His knowledge and wisdom were intact until his last moments.
He was very much loved and died peacefully surrounded by his family.
Services will be private. The family welcomes visitors to Pat and Griff’s home, Friday, October 5, 2007 between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Cremation arrangements were handled by Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to Boy’s Haven, P.O. Box 5815, Beaumont, Texas 77726.
