NATCHEZ — Services for Herman Bankston Skates, 87, of Natchez, who died Monday, Aug. 30, 2010, at Veterans Administration Medical Center in Jackson, will be at 2 p.m. today at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dick Root officiating.

Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time today at the funeral home.

Mr. Skates was born Nov. 2, 1922, in Learned/Raymond, the son of George Washington Skates Sr. and Thelma Louise Bankston Skates. He was raised by his maternal grandparents near Learned.

In February of 1942, during World War II, he joined the U.S. Army, serving in the 5th Infantry. Mr. Skates married Dorothy M. Curtis of Utica, Oct. 12, 1946. They were married 63 years at the time of her death, Jan. 5, 2010. Later, he opened his own business, Skates Body Shop, where he was well respected for his excellent workmanship. He was a mentor to a number of young men who later opened their own body shops in the Natchez area. He and Dorothy raised cattle on their land in the Pine Ridge/Airport Road area of Adams County for a number of years.

They faithfully attended Fourth Street Church of Christ and later Covington Road Church of Christ. He enjoyed singing and playing his guitar and harmonica. He was a very humorous, kind-hearted and dignified man who will be missed very much by all.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, George, Buddy and Barney Skates; and two sisters, Ella Mae Lofton and Ruth Hennington.

Survivors include two daughters, Peggy Marie June and husband, Jimmy, of Lake Concordia, and Charlotte Dorene Ward and husband, Terry, of Terry; two sons, Ray Herman Skates and wife, Laurie, of Vidalia, and Barry Lester Skates and wife, Nona, of Brookhaven; 13 grandchildren, Charles Jordan Jr., Keith Jordan, Doug Jordan, Tonya Galbreath, Jered Skates, Adam Skates, Russell Skates, Casey Owens, Emily Wallace, Alan Skates, Leslie Butler, Audrea Gay Hood and Samantha Petty; 16 great-grandchildren; and three sisters, “Tibby” Womack, Louise Womack, both of Utica, and Jean “Dolly” Warren of Clinton.

Pallbearers will be grandsons.

Online condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.