Carmen "Dinah" Bates

Dinah was born on March 8, 1926, in New York, New York. The daughter of Spanish immigrants who came to New York from Puerto Rico, she was the third of five children, three boys and two girls. She grew up in a small cold water flat in The Bronx.

In her mid-twenties, Dinah graduated from Stonybrook School of Nursing, in Stonybrook, NY and received her RN. She made a lifelong career of nursing, completing over 40 years of service.

In 1952, she married the love of her life, Kenneth Joseph Bates. They lived in Syosset on Long Island, where they had four children: Kim, Kenn, Lynn, and Jeff. Tragically, Lynn died only a year after birth. The family moved to Ohio for several years for Ken’s job, and then migrated west to California in 1969, where they settled in Irvine, CA. In the late 1990’s, Ken and Dinah retired to Fallbrook, CA. Ken preceded Dinah in death in 2010, prompting Dinah to move to Senior living closer to Jeff in San Diego. Her daughter, Kim, succumbed to brain cancer in 2018.

Dinah passed away peacefully on January 7, 2022, at 95 years old. She is survived by her brother, Bobby, two sons Kenn and Jeff, son-in-law Scott, and son-in-law Ron. Additionally, she has many nieces, nephews, cousins, and three honorary granddaughters. All who knew her spoke of her elegance, compassion, kindness, and quiet dignified manner. She will be greatly missed.

A visitation for Dinah will be held Thursday, January 27, 2022 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Merkley-Mitchell Mortuary, 3655 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92103.

A funeral service will occur Friday, January 28, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at St. Johns Episcopal Church, 760 1st Ave, Cula Vista, CA 91910.

A burial will occur Friday, January 28, 2022 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at El Camino Memorial - Sorrento Valley, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92121.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pacificbeachchapel.com for the Bates family.