Obituaries 08-07-2012

William Franklin Yates

William Franklin Yates of Boston and Little Compton, RI, died on Friday, July 27 surrounded by his family. He was 79 years old.

Born September 1, 1932 in Berlin, NH to James Andrew Yates and Harriet Hall Yates Tyson, he was raised in Sherborn, Massachusetts, graduated from Nobles and Greenough in Dedham, MA, Class of 1951 and Harvard College, class of 1955.

After college, Mr. Yates served in the US Air Force, stationed in Germany. Upon his return, he received his MBA from Boston University and started his career in finance at New England Mutual Life Insurance Co.

In 1973 he joined the Woodstock Corp. of Boston, a wealth and asset management firm as Vice President. He was a Director of the Exchange Bank in Richmond, MO for many years. In 1988 he started his own company, Yates Capital Management, serving as president till 2003.

Mr. Yates is survived by his wife of 21 years, Sonja (Seifert) Yates. He was the devoted father of Rebecca Velander and her husband, Fredrik of Chestnut Hill, Andrew Yates and his wife, Jennifer of Little Compton and Tuppett Yates and her wife, Katja Guenther, of Pasadena, CA. He was also the loving grandfather to Cecilia, Charlotte and Elizabeth Velander and Sophia, Natasha and Isabella Yates. He is also survived by his three step-children: Kurt McCandless and his wife, Katherine, Kim Hiles and her husband, Bill and Karin Butts and her husband, Dave as well as their children Laura, Kate, Nate, Nicholas, Natalie and Simon. He was the beloved brother of Martha Tyson Slayman of Palmyra, PA. Mr. Yates was pre-deceased by his first wife, Mary (Polly) Parker Yates and their son, William F. Yates, III.

Burial was private and a memorial service was held on August 25 at the United Congregational Church in Little Compton, Rhode Island. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of William F. Yates to Nobles and Greenough School Scholarship Fund, 10 Campus Drive, Dedham, Massachusetts 02026 and/or the United Congregational Church in Little Compton.

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