Sophia C. Dantes

Sophia was born to Greek immigrants, George and Tasia Coleman. Sophia’s father lived in Salt Lake City at the age of 15, making his way by laying the railroad. Tasia came through Ellis Island in July, 1922 and then to Wewoka, where Sophia’s parents met. Sophia was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma as the first daughter of four children, Helen was born one year after Sophia, Christine, born in 1930 and her brother, Dean, was born in 1936. Sophia’s family moved to Oklahoma City when she was five, where she attended Eugene Fields Elementary school. She remembers having Mrs. Listen in kindergarten, the same teacher who taught Mike Leeper, Angelica and Andy Dantes years later.

Sophia was blessed with a beautiful voice and began singing publically at age 12. In her high school years, she was a paid soloist in services, weddings and funerals at the First Baptist Church as well as singing for Governor Kerr, for other dignitaries and for many special events. She was accompanied by Ken Wright of WKY and won two voice scholarships in Jr. and Sr. High school. She took private lessons from Bess McClennon Hughes, who was preparing her for the Chicago Opera auditions. Sophia was very proud of her high school and graduated from Central High School in 1944. She married John Dantes in March of 1944. From that union there were three children.

Sophia loved to travel and began with trips to New Mexico, New York City, Atlanta. She made several trips to Europe and her family homeland, Greece. She had many wonderful memories from her experiences.

She was a life-long member of St George Greek Orthodox Church and was active in choir for 50 years, receiving the Archbishop Iakovos Distinguished Service Award for her many years of dedicated service. She was a member of Enosis (Philopticos) and participated in the Greek festival.

As a youth, she worked with her father in his restaurant, George’s Steak House, on Grand Avenue, preparing her for a successful professional future. She worked for Sears Roebuck, was self-employed in the liquor business and retired after 20-plus years from Western Electric. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, John Dantes, sisters and their husbands, Helen (Pete Chandis) Christine (Very Reverend Homer Goumenis) and her daughter, Aneece, who died as a toddler.

She is survived by her brother, Dean Coleman, son, Andrew (Connie Dantes), daughter, Angelica (Michael Leeper), 5 grandchildren, (Michele, Bill, Kristen, Kimberly and Jennifer) 7 great grandchildren (Andy, Brian, Nathan, Sarah, Boston, Aaron and Eden) and 2 great, great grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to St. George Greek Orthodox Church.