Michael Bates: June 2025 Archives

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 Facebook page.

In early 2006, Santa David wrote the following reflection on his first year as a real-bearded Santa, a second career that emerged out of his retirement and his decision to stop shaving.

2005 has been an interesting year, the year I retired from full-time employment from Saint Francis Hospital after 15 years on January 31. Jan. 31st was also the last day I shaved my face.

After several months of goofing off, I volunteered at the Saint Francis Gift Shop, helping with the POS (Point of Sale) software beginning at the 1st of May....

By the end of October, my beard had grown to about 3-3 ½ inches and was looking a lot like a Santa Claus beard, so it was decided to purchase a "Santa suit".

I made by debut as Santa for the Saint Francis Gift Shop in their Christmas kick-off in November. My next "gig" was for the pediatric ward at Saint Francis Hospital, it was a great experience. (11/25/2021 - There are pictures of our visit. This was the Premies ward where some of the babies extremely small. One of the babies, I could have held in one hand, it was so small. WDB)

Then I went to our class Sunday School Christmas party, an appearance at the Hispanic Christmas party.

A performance of the Tulsa Boys Singers with our Joseph at Philbrook Museum gave me the opportunity to visit with their Santa Claus, consequently, they gave me the opportunity to be Santa at Philbrook on 2 different weekends. During those occasions, I had several special memories, a young 20 something Tunisian girl, said I was the first Santa she had ever met. The baby of a young couple had just been dedicated at their church and was visiting the museum that afternoon and had a picture taken with Santa and their baby. An 84-year-old mother and her daughter, a group of about 8 ladies all having fun had a group picture taken.

A 5-6-year-old young girl came up announcing that she was the great grand daughter of Bob Wills. During the conversation she abruptly stopped and commented that I was dressed like Santa Claus. I told her I was Santa Claus. She looked at me, then said "no, you're not; you don't...". She stopped, her attention went towards where her family were, and she took off.

My favorite visit as Santa was to visit Omega Klein, a 96-year-old member of our Sunday School class, who had been house bound for several months, had as much fun as I did.

The next event, I had a 2 hour visit at Camp Loughridge, I don't know what I enjoyed the most, the visit, getting paid $75 for it or the reaction of the children.

An earlier visit to a young adult Sunday School Class to deliver gifts to a young lady and her two children, it was exciting and a great blessing.

Finally, a Christmas eve visit to Vanessa Kusler and her 3 daughters, and other members of her family, and later in the day, a visit to Penny Thomas, her son and nieces. It made a very special Christmas for me and Sandy. It will be a year to remember.

P.S. I wonder what next year will bring????