It’s with a sad heart that we announce the passing of Barbara Ruth Bates Trainor, 80, recently of Oviedo, FL, on September 26, 2023, with all her children by her side. Born in 1943 to Gaither and Ruth Bates, in East Paterson, NJ, she is survived by her four children and their partners, James & Lynn Trainor Jr., Marcy & Matthew Dolan, Teresa & George Smith, and Michael Trainor & Angela Zuraw. She is also survived by three grandsons, Ian, Christopher (& his sweet wife Sara), and Marlon, as well as her sister and brother-in-law, Jessie & Tom Trainor, and her brother Larry Bates, several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews that she loved very much. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, James F. Trainor, Sr., grandson Justin, and sisters Grace Lee Berckmann, Joyce Dixon, and Martha Lanza, and brother Gaither Bates, Jr.
As anyone who knew her would say she was a kind, loving person with a smidge of NJ redneck. She always had time for a good listen and talk. Her life growing up with her 6 brothers and sisters made for lifelong memories, and then came a whirlwind romance and lifelong adventure with our father adding to her story. They ran the business of barnstorming as a partnership as they did their relationship. Enter the 4 children, 50+ years of marriage, grandchildren and a large extended family which all makes for a wonderful life well lived.
Barbara was proud to be from New Jersey, but also included Hollywood, FL, Americus, GA and Satellite Beach, FL among the places she called home. Always first to the party and the last to leave, she loved being around family and friends and telling stories of childhood and flying. The woman could remember names and places like nobody's business. She was a hardworking mom and had several interesting occupations over her lifetime. From working as a receiving manager and trainer for Walmart to working on planes and in aviation with our dad, her resume was not conventional, but she always worked hard to help provide for her family. Barbara got very close to getting her private pilot’s license, soloing as a young mom, and later getting her “$100 hamburger” (aka cross-country flight), she was Dad’s trusted copilot on many a trip in small planes over the years. She was very recently regaling us with a story of her excitement years ago when telling two of her sisters that she had completed her first cross country flight, only to be met with shouts of “that’s so dangerous!” and “why would you do that?!” To which she replied, “it’s fun and I enjoy it!” She frequently joked that the only reason Dad married her was that she was tall enough and strong enough to prop an airplane (google it and prepare to be impressed).
Known by several handles, Mom was a dedicated Grandma, GiGi, and Mama T, that loved spoiling and spending time with her grandchildren. And when they couldn’t come to her, she was traveling wherever and whenever to be with them. A fierce protector of family and the good cause, she had an impressive history of volunteering. A longtime supporter and fundraiser for The American Cancer Society with 1000s of hours dedicated to the cause, she raised thousands of dollars over the 18+ years she spent as a Team Captain and Committee Chairperson for Relay for Life of the South Brevard Beaches. It is no doubt she would want donations in lieu of flowers to the American Cancer Society.
Her dedication, easy laughter, and smile will be missed by all lucky enough to have known her and will love her forever. “A mom’s hug lasts long after she let’s go.” – Unknown
A celebration of life will be held the afternoon of October 21 in Cocoa Village, FL. Please message Lynn Gourley via FB Messenger if planning to attend.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made to:
American Cancer Society, Relay for Life
Please copy and paste the below website address into your internet browser
https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR?fr_id=107614&pg=team&team_id=2719840&fbclid=Iw
