Robert Douglas Yates, age 89, of Arkadelphia, passed from this life on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, at Twin Rivers Health and Rehabilitation Center in Arkadelphia.  He was born November 28, 1936, in Jersey City, NJ, the son of the late Robert Scouler and Margaret Shaw Yates.  Doug was a 1954 graduate of Begota High School in Begota, NJ.  He graduated in 1959 from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA.  Doug was a United States Navy veteran serving during the Cuban Missile Crisis.  He was a retired Regional Sales Manager for Unocal Corporation.  Doug was a member of Second Baptist Church in Arkadelphia.  He enjoyed snowboarding, sailing, fly fishing, hiking and scuba diving in his free time.  Doug was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife, Myrle Ann Yates.

Survivors are one daughter, Kyle Yates Jarboe (Daniel) of Arkadelphia, two sons, Robert Douglas Yates, II, of San Diego, CA and John Scott Yates (Sandra) of Mason, MI, one sister, Joan Yates McGarry Methfessel of Annapolis, MD, ten grandchildren, Bryan Jarboe, Matthew Jarboe, Kenneth Jarboe, Amy Jarboe, Jordan Jarboe, Sydnie (Yates) Knutson, Bradley Yates, Alexandria Yates, Robert Douglas Yates III, and Kai Noah Yates, and eleven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, April 17, 2026, at Second Baptist Church in Arkadelphia.

Military honors will be rendered by the United States Naval funeral honors team.

Memorials may be made to Second Baptist Church, 815 S 11th St, Arkadelphia, AR 71923.

Final arrangements are entrusted to The Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia.  Visit www.welchfh.net to sign the guest book.