David Spenser Yates
Submitted by Jim Lanzillo



 

David Spencer Yates

PROCTOR,Vermont — David Spencer Yates, 77, died Oct. 31, 2008, of respiratory failure.  He was born in Burlington on Feb. 7, 1931, the adopted son of Sheldon Smith and Edith (Cutter) Yates of Englewood, N.J.  He was a 1949 graduate of Deerfield Academy and attended the University of Virginia.  He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.

He was a birder, naturalist and historian, and gave his time to many organizations, most recently St. Dominic’s Church of Proctor and Rutland County Audubon Society.  He enjoyed golf, skiing, canoeing, hockey and world travel. In the 1970s, he built and operated the Whiteface Mountain KOA campground near Lake Placid, N.Y.

Survivors include a daughter, Mary Yates of Bristol; two sons, D. Spencer Yates Jr. and John Yates of Proctor; three grandchildren; a brother, Robert Yates of New Canaan, Conn.; numerous nieces and nephews.

Mr. Yates was predeceased by his wife of 40 years, Janice Lanzillo Yates, in 2003.

The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at St. Dominic’s Church in Proctor followed by a reception and calling hours at 11:30 a.m. at the Union Church reception hall in Proctor.

Contributions may be made for the preservation and upkeep of the West Rutland Marsh Boardwalk, to Rutland County Audubon Society, in care of John Yates, 28 Olympus Road, Proctor, VT 05765.
 

 
Greetings,

My Brother-in-Law, David Spencer Yates served aboard the Laffey.  According to his DD214 his active duty ran from May 3, 1954 to April 14, 1956.  He completed ET Class 'A' School Nov. 26, 1954 and spent the remainder of his active duty, (17 mos.), on the USS Laffey as a ET/3. 

David passed away 10/31/2008 at the age of 77.

If I can provide any further information please feel free to contact me at jlanzill@rochester.rr.com or his son John Yates at johnyates7@hotmail.com.

Fellow Sailor,

Jim Lanzillo
Vietnam Veteran
1963-1967
USS Dyess DD-880
Radarman 2nd Class

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