Mary Danylak

Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Danylak, loving mother, passed away on July 23, 2022, at the age of 87.

Interment:  Betty will be laid to rest with her beloved husband of 55 years, Nicholas Danylak, Sr. at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org) or the Humane Society of North Texas (www.hsnt.org).

Betty was born December 4, 1934, in San Benito, Texas to Albert and Anita Atkinson. She was a native Texan and proud of her Hispanic heritage on her mother’s side. She attended Durham’s Business College of Harlingen, Texas and started her Civil Service career at Harlingen Air Force Base (AFB), Texas where she met and married Nicholas Danylak. She followed her husband’s military career and joined him in the Philippines where she worked for the 13th Air Force Historical Branch. Upon returning stateside, she took a break to raise her children. She then resumed her career upon her husband’s assignment to Ankara, Turkey where she worked for the Defense Communications Agency and Office of Special Investigations. Returning to Texas, she worked at Carswell AFB as secretary to the Commissary Officer, and then 7th Supply Squadron as Administrative Supervisor, and finally as Secretary to the Chief of Supply. Betty retired after 30 years of dedicated service.

Betty was an active member of St. Anne’s Guild and sang in the choir at Webb AFB Big Spring, Texas. In the 70s and 80s she was secretary to the Carswell Secretaries Club and secretary to the Latin American Club. She enjoyed dancing and watching old western movies and TV shows.  She was a die-hard Democrat and loved nothing better than a good debate. She frequently wrote letters to the editor at the Fort Worth Star Telegram newspaper.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Anita Atkinson; her husband of 55 years, Nicholas Danylak; brothers, Tommy, Tony, Albert Jr., Henry (KIA Korea), Gilbert, and Ernest; and her sisters, Bertha Persall, Dora Lugo, Estella Zuniga, and Norma Atkinson.

Survivors: She leaves behind her loving daughters, Debra Lee Arendall (Troy), and Mary Catherine Danylak (James Moore, Jr.); son, Nicholas Danylak, Jr.; and numerous nephews and nieces.