Former Carroll County Commissioner Richard Yates Dies at 86

Richard Thomas Yates, 86, of Sykesville, a former Carroll County Commissioner. died Monday, March 5, at Carroll Hospice's Dove House in Westminster. 

Yates was born in Baltimore in 1925 and was drafted into the Army on Aug. 30, 1943. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantry Medal.

He moved to Carroll County in 1963 and served as a Carroll County Commissioner from 1994 until 1998. 

He was a member of Freedom Lodge No. 112 A.F.& A.M, was former commander of VFW Post No. 4952, and an accomplished pilot.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are daughter and son-in-law Julia Ann and Stephen H. Sothoron, of Sykesville; sons and daughter-in-law Donald Richard and Danielle Marie Yates, and Kenneth Yates, all of Sykesville; grandchildren Christopher and Casey Selby, Jennifer Sothoron, Karah, Kristin, Karlie, Kelli and Jesse Yates; and nephews Richard and Donald Baum.

He was predeceased by a sister, Jessie Adelaide Baum.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Friday at Haight Funeral Home and Chapel at 6416 Sykesville Road in Sykesville.

A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Westminster.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Carroll Hospice Dove House, 292 Stoner Ave., Westminster, MD, 21157.

Online condolences may be offered on the Haight Funeral Home website here.

Information from Haight Funeral Home in Sykesville.