Remembering David Bates

On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 10:30 am, at First Baptist Tulsa, family and friends will gather to remember the life of my Dad, David Bates. If you visited Philbrook in the pre-Christmas season over the last two decades, you probably met him and had your picture taken with him. I wrote his obituary, which follows, and am writing a eulogy for next week. I don’t imagine I’ll be writing much else for a while.

David Bates, known to a generation of Tulsans as Santa Claus, died peacefully May 30, 2025, surrounded by family. He was 85.

Wayne David Bates was born November 26, 1939 to Minnie Lucille (McGee) and John Richard David Bates at their home in Nowata. David attended Nowata public schools, class of 1958, where he was drum major and active in the First Baptist Church and Boy Scouts Troop 21. He delivered newspapers and prescriptions as a boy and later worked at his dad's shop, Johnny's Electronics.

David met his future wife, Sandra Lyn Rhea of Dewey, at Falls Creek Baptist Assembly when they were 14. Wed in Dewey on January 22, 1961, they had two children, Michael and Kay, and were married for 58 years until parted by death. In 2021, David married the former Betty Ann Butler Fields of Miami.

David attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, leading the Golden Norsemen Band as drum major in the 1958 Junior Rose Bowl Parade, and Northeastern State College. He completed his bachelor's degree in 1994 at Langston University-Tulsa.

David worked in accounting and data processing for Cities Service in Bartlesville and Tulsa and as a programmer analyst for St. Francis Health System. A devout Baptist, David served as deacon, deacon chairman, Church Training director, Sunday School teacher, choir member, and videographer at First Baptist Rolling Hills, Memorial Baptist, and First Baptist Tulsa, his church home for the last 30 years. He was a Jaycee, a Toastmaster, enjoyed bowling, leatherwork, and woodworking, sang in the St. Francis choir, and volunteered for the St. Francis Children's Hospital Gift Shop.

In retirement, David found his calling as Santa Claus. For twenty Christmas seasons, Santa David delighted Tulsa children of all ages at Philbrook, Gilcrease, Tulsa Country Club, hospital wards, school classrooms, boutiques, retirement centers, and private homes, hauling his custom throne in the back of his Santa-Tulsa-mobile with the reindeer hood ornament. David enjoyed the fellowship at state and national gatherings of the International Brotherhood of Real-Bearded Santas.

When asked what Santa wanted for Christmas, Santa David would say his wish was that everyone would know, understand, and accept the words of John 3:16, the true meaning of Christmas. David came to faith in Jesus as a nine-year-old, and that faith sustained him through his final illness, knowing that he would live forever because of the Savior and Lord who died and rose for him.

David is survived by children Michael (Mikki) Bates and Kay (Mike) Strain, grandchildren Kendall and Jared Strain, Joseph (Allison), Katherine, and Matthew Bates, brother Robert (Janet) Bates, and many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Sandy, his parents John and Lucille, and siblings Joan Lavena, Richard, Allen, and Jerold Lee Bates.

Services will be held at First Baptist Tulsa, June 25, 2025, at 10:30 am, under the direction of Moore Southlawn, followed by burial at Nowata Memorial Cemetery. Donations in David's memory may be made to Isaiah 58 In His Service (isaiah58ihs.org).

You're invited to share your memories at the tribute wall for David, or on his Santa Tulsa Facebook page.