Olga Batey

Olga Mary Popovich Batey died on August 14 in Elk Grove at the age of 93. She was born in Mountain View, CA the 5th of 6 children of Croatian immigrants Steve and Mary Churin Popovich. Olga enjoyed a happy childhood on the ranch with her parents and siblings, picking cherries and walnuts and cutting apricots in the summer. But her true love was singing and dancing. She convinced her mother to drive her to San Francisco to take dancing lessons, which resulted in an offer from her cousin Tony Popovich to sing and tap dance on the radio with his band. Olga met her future husband Bob Batey at a folk dance class in Mountain View. They began dating as Olga started college at San Jose State where Bob was a sophomore. Bob enlisted in the Army Air Corps and he and Olga corresponded throughout his time in the service. Once he got out, he returned to finish his last semester of college, so they both graduated from San Jose State at the same time. Married on June 30, 1946 the newlyweds moved to Elk Grove; Bob worked for his Uncle Bob at Batey Bros. Chevrolet, while Olga began a teaching career at Elk Grove Grammar School. In 1948 Stephanie, their first of 4 children was born. Over the next 6 years 3 more children followed. Christine, Matthew and Robert. Their love of dancing caused them to begin a folk dance club, which morphed into a singing and dancing review named Hester Skelter. Parents and kids produced a show of skits and barbershop quartet that filled the Elk Grove High School auditorium. Olga then began an active community and political life including being a founding member of the Elk Grove Mother's Club, which started the Elk Grove Western Festival and founded the Friends of the Elk Grove Library; the South County Democratic Club, Elk Grove Book Club, Girl Scout leader, Sunday school teacher and choir member at the Elk Grove Methodist church and Elk Grove Historical Society. In 1964 she ran for and won a seat on the Elk Grove Unified School District Board, becoming the first woman to do so. In 1967 she returned to teaching at Joseph Kerr Middle School. Olga was honored for all her activities in 1993 by being named Citizen of the Year, and then as Honorary Grand Marshall of the Elk Grove Western Festival Parade in 1994. Throughout these years Olga and Bob traveled extensively thanks to winning sales contests from Chevrolet, touring many continents and countries, including Europe, Eastern Europe, Africa, China, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand and Australia. Once Bob sold his car business in 1982 they continued their love of adventure by joining Grand Circle and Elderhostel, taking many, many trips throughout the USA, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama. In addition their love of adventure meant spending every summer with their family at their Woods Lake cabin in the Sierras, and back packing with friends in the Southern Sierras. Olga is survived by her younger brother Donald Popovich (Betty), sister-in-law Etta Thomas, daughter Stephanie, son Robert, granddaughter Katina Mitsopoulos (George), grandson Robert Sarantakis, son-in-law Christo Sarantakis and great grandchildren Christiana and Thanos Mitsopoulos, several cousins nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations may be made to the American Cancer Society and Alzheimer's Society. A private reception celebrating the life of Olga Batey will be held at a future date.