Dorothy Bates-Brown 89, of Tarrytown, New York died at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, New York. Mrs. Bates-Brown previously lived in Urbana for 50 years, from 1955 - 2005.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 a.m. Saturday, July 18, 2009 at Renner-Wikoff Chapel, Urbana, the Rev. Mike Smith will officiate. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Champaign. There will be no public visitation.

Dorothy was born on April 15, 1920 in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Walter E. and Gypsy Pettit. She married J. Leonard Bates in August 1943. Mr. Bates was a History Professor at the U. of Illinois for almost 40 years. He died in 1998. In August of 2002 she married Raymond C. Brown in Urbana. Mr. Brown worked for the Railroad and was proprietor of Brownies Tavern. He died on August 6, 2005.

Survivors include one son; Alan Bates of Tarrytown, New York and two grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by one son, one sister and two brothers.

Dorothy graduated from Columbus public schools, Ohio State University and the University of North Carolina.

Mrs. Bates-Brown was a school teacher during WW II. She worked briefly at the University of Illinois Library but mostly devoted herself to her children and volunteer work. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, League of Women Voters, The Urban League and the Champaign County Democratic Party.

Condolences may be offered at www.renner-wikoffchapel.com