Donna Kay (Pladis) Bates

Donna Kay (Pladis) Bates died unexpectedly on May 1, 2023.  She was born on May 18, 1951, in Chicago, IL to Theodore and Kathryn (Sprincz) Pladis.

Donna was a graduate of Carl Schurz High School, class of 1969 and Wilbur Wright College, Class of 1971.  She began her career in Chicago, IL with Bankers Life and Casualty Insurance Company.  This is where she met her future husband, Joe. Donna was also a teacher’s assistant for North Elementary School in Crystal Lake, IL for over 20 years.

On August 8, 1981, she was united in marriage to Joseph D. Bates in Chicago, IL.

Donna began her singing career in 1969 with the Melodeer chorus of Sweet Adelines International and became an International Champion with the Melo-Edge quartet in 1983.  She performed with Melo-Edge on three cruises, the Phil Donahue Show, and a Toni Tennille special.  She was also a master director and an instructor for the Sweet Adeline International organization.

Donna is survived by her daughters, Sarah Bates (fiancé Matthew Raines) of Chicago, IL, and Abbie (Morgan) Baer of Glen Carbon, IL;  sister, Maureen (Pladis) Brzinski of Poplar Grove, IL; sisters-in-law Patricia (Tim) O’Rourke of Bedford, IN, Priscilla Caringer of Princeton, IN, Barbara (Dale) Krieg of Princeton, IN and Pamela Bates of Evansville, IN; brothers-in-law, Robert “Bud” Bates of Owensboro, KY, Edward (Vikki) Bates of Camden, SC, Jerry Bates of Hazelton, IN, Jeff (Donna) Bates of Patoka, IN, Tim (Lana) Bates of Princeton, IN, Tom (Karen) Bates of Saint Peters, MO; and several nieces and nephews.

Donna and Joe passed together.  She is preceded in death by her parents; sisters-in-law, Martha “Billie” Bates and Bonnie Lance; Brothers-in-law, Ron Caringer and Jerry Lance.

A time of remembrance will be held for Joe and Donna at 5:00 pm Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at Colvin Funeral Home, Princeton, Indiana. A gathering of family and friends will be held from 2 until 5:00 pm Tuesday at the funeral home. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the “Coronet Club” of Sweet Adelines International, 9110 South Toledo Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74137.

Condolences may be made online at www.colvinfuneralhome.com, where you may also light a candle in her memory. Colvin Funeral Home is honored to serve the Bates family.

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