Bettie Athans

Bettie Helen Kockinis Athans, 100, of Danville, Virginia passed away on Monday, September 16, 2019.    She was born on July 3, 1919 in Woodland, California to the late George Kockinis and Serra Mecouris Kockinis. Bettie married Peter Constantine Athans in 1939 and they were together for 69 years until his passing in 2008.    Bettie’s career included secretarial positions at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Depot as well as many other companies. She completed her career working for the McClatchy-owned newspaper, The Sacramento Bee. There she held positions in a variety of areas and was trained for and helped set up the company’s first IBM computer system. She completed her career by serving as the owner’s personal and confidential secretary until her retirement in 1975.    She was a member of and served as an officer for the Business and Professional Women’s organization in Sacramento, California. Peter and Bettie relocated to Virginia Beach, Virginia in 1975. In 1988, they moved to Danville and became members of St. Peter’s Greek Orthodox Church and Bettie joined The Wednesday Club. Above all, her greatest love and volunteer work was for the churches she attended in Sacramento as well as Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Danville. In addition to her husband, Bettie was predeceased by her four brothers, Peter, Christopher, Angelo and Nick Kockinis.    Bettie is survived by two children, Carol Kolendrianos (Harry) of Danville, VA and Dean Athans (Tina) of Monrovia, CA. In addition, she is survived by four grandchildren, Elizabeth Kolendrianos of Roanoke, VA, Stacy Mitchell (Chad) of Crozet, VA, Peter Athans (Kristen) of Coto De Caza, CA and Theodore Athans (Jennie) of Chino Hills, CA.    Bettie also was blessed with ten great-grandchildren, William and Michael Mitchell of Crozet, VA, Nicholas, Anna, and Christopher Gentiluomo of Roanoke, VA, Sydney, Grant and Troy Athans of Coto De Caza, CA and Lexi and Cassie Athans of Chino Hills, CA.    The family would like to give special thanks to Bettie’s caregivers, Betty Hamlett, April Shelton, Nancy Wilborn, Bruni Scarce and Marilyn Myers.    A prayer service and visitation will be held at 7:00 PM on Friday, September 20, 2019 at Townes Funeral Home, 215 West Main Street, Danville, VA.    Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 PM on Saturday, September 21, 2019 at St. Peter’s Greek Orthodox Church, 116 Jefferson Avenue, Danville, VA with interment following at Mount View Cemetery.    In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to St. Peter’s Greek Orthodox Church or a charity of your choice.