OTTUMWA — Phillip Benjamin Gates, 76, of 506 W. Fourth St., died at 8:05 p.m. August 4, 2015, at Ottumwa Regional Health Center.

He was born November 17, 1938, in Ottumwa to William Avery and Bessie Ellen Holton Gates. He married Gladys W. Mallory on November 5, 1960.

A 1958 graduate of Ottumwa High School, he served 13 years with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and also served with the Iowa Army National Guard.

He worked for 28 years for Ottumwa Police Department, retiring as chief of police in 1989. He worked seven years for Southern Iowa Transit.

He attended Ottumwa Community Church. As a young man he enjoyed going for drives and spending time hiking, fishing and exploring nature with his children, nieces and nephews.

Surviving are his wife, Gladys; two daughters, Kim (James) Gates Heifort and Lisa (Doug) Maize, both of Ottumwa; a son, Tom (Tarry) Gates of River Hills, Wisconsin; seven grandchildren, Mallory Heifort, Tyler Heifort, James Maize, Joseph (Heather) Maize, Stephen Maize, Nicki (Benjamin) Wyldes and Cole Comer; nine great-grandchildren, Christopher, Kelsey, Shayla, Ian, Kobey, Davin, Alayna, Briar and Coral.

He was preceded in death by five sisters, LaVon Tennison, Maxine Leighton, Deloris Brovage, Caroline Johnson and Joyce Gates; four brothers, Harvey, Frank, Robert and infant Clarence Gates.

His body has been cremated.

Memorial services will be 1p.m. Friday at Reece Funeral Home with Rev. Bryan Wyldes and Rev. Loyd Osborn officiating. Inurnment will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery with military services conducted by O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion and Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars.