SYRACUSE – Dolores Marie “Dee” Bates, 84, formerly of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully Aug. 13, 2019.
Dee was born Sept. 3, 1934, in Armstrong County, Pa., to the late Charles J. Chelko Jr. and Sophie Czitteberg Chelko. She received a bachelor of arts degree in education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she was a member of the Tri Sigma sorority.
In 1959, Dee married the late Joel G. Bates, originally of Syracuse, who remained her husband for more than 55 years. Together, the couple lived in New Jersey and Pittsburgh before settling in Houston. She received a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Houston. Dee had a long career in school administration and was the director of the Magnet School program for the Houston Independent School District. She was a devoted member of St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church where she sang in the choir.
Dee was the beloved mother of Greg (Ute) Bates, Colin Bates and Allison (Paul) Free; the loving grandmother of John Bates, Matthew Bates, Philip Bates and Timothy Bates; and the sister of Catherine (John) Metheny, Carole McElwain, Loretta (Ken) O'Brien, Elaine (Tom) Jones, Carla (Tom) Friel and Charles (Becky) Chelko.
Visitation will be 3 to 6 p.m. today with a rosary at 6 p.m. at the Eastlund Funeral Home, Syracuse. A mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 30 at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, with Father Andrew Nazareth officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Warsaw.
