Oct 19, 1923 – May 16, 2019
Jane Bates Waters passed away on May 16, 2019, at age 95 in Bryan, Texas. Jane Belknap Bates was born on October 19, 1923, in Chula Vista, California. She was the daughter of Elizabeth Belknap Bates and John Worth Bates. She has two younger surviving sisters, Shirley Loffmark and Ruth Crosthwaite.
Jane and Shirley were raised by their grandmother, Marie Edwards Belknap, in Chula Vista after their parents passed away at a young age in the early 1930s. Jane met her future husband at Sweetwater Union High School and after they graduated in 1941, Jane and John David Waters were married on March 9, 1942.
During World War II, John and Jane lived in New Orleans, Louisiana, with their first son, David John Waters (deceased May 6, 2019). After the war, Jane, John, and David returned to Chula Vista. Jane had three more children, Steven F. Waters, Linda M. Waters, and Michael R. Waters. Jane wanted the best for her family. She encouraged and supported her children in many varied activities from Boy Scouts to Camp Fire Girls, learning to play the violin, to mastering many forms of dance, and nurturing a budding interest in archaeology. She had a big heart when it came to orphaned animals. None were ever turned away. You could always find her with a dishtowel over her shoulder busy around the house. While raising a family, Jane also assisted John in his business. Jane loved the outdoors, flowers (especially gardenias), music (especially opera), her dogs, reading, and travel.
After living in Chula Vista for 30 years, Jane and John moved to Alpine, California in 1975, where they lived and continued to work together on the family business. After 59 years of marriage, John passed on April 2, 2001; Jane closed the business, and continued to reside in Alpine, until she moved to Bryan, Texas, in 2010 to be closer to family. During that time, she was able to participate in many family events. Jane is survived by her three youngest children, eight grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren. Jane will be remembered as a devoted wife, and a loving and caring mother. As per her wishes, she will return home to California and her ashes scattered in the Cuyamaca Mountains that she loved so much.
Cremation services are in the care of Callaway-Jones Funeral and Cremation Centers of Bryan College Station.
Express condolences at CallawayJones.com
Dear Waters Family, I am so very sorry for your loss. I thought of Jane today as I know her birthday is the 19th and was going to call her. Jane was my dear friend that I met in the Corvette Club many years ago. Jane and John would visit us in our Corvette Shop, Anything Corvette. They would come to our house for holiday dinners quite frequently. I absolutely LOVED Jane and thought of her as a Parent. We would laugh and laugh on the phone reminiscing about old Corvette days as well as just talking about her life as a youngster growing up. Jane was SOOO proud of her children and spoke about them every chance she got! Mike and family, thank you for taking care of Jane in her latter years when it was obvious the house was too big for her to manage any longer! i will always treasure her friendship and will miss her immensely! Blessing to you all and thank you for sharing her with me!