Virginia C. Schattyn

Virginia Coline Elkins-Schattyn

June 5, 1940 – Dec. 10, 2023

Coline Schattyn, 83, passed away on December 10, 2023 in Kerrville, TX, where she had resided for the past 20 years.

She was born Virginia Coline Elkins in Buncombe, Illinois. Shortly after her birth, her father obtained a job with Chrysler and moved the family first to Evansville, Indiana and then again in 1960 to St. Louis, Missouri where Chrysler was opening their new plant.

At the age of 21, Coline got a job as a secretary at Mac Donnell Aircraft’s Corporate Offices in St. Louis. In addition to secretarial work, she acted as hostess for corporate meetings and other corporate functions.  The USA was just entering the “space race” with Mac Donnell’s Mercury Space Capsule.  This gave her the opportunity to meet and work with the original seven astronauts, and to meet President John Kennedy, who visited right after John Glen’s first flight.

In 1964, she met John Schattyn, one of Mac Donnell’s newly hired engineers.  They hit it off immediately.  But, by 1965 John had grown tired of engineering work, and quit Mac Donnell to enroll in Purdue University’s business school. Before leaving, John proposed marriage.

On August 15, 1966 John graduated.  Five days later they were married.  After a one-week honeymoon and one week to pack they moved to Houston, where John had obtained a job with Humble Oil (now Exxon).  Coline also found work with Humble, in their travel department, arranging travel for corporate executives and new recruits.

From there she took advantage of the hostess skills she had learned at Mac Donnell and began hosting other Functions for Exxon.  By the time she had retired, she had her own staff within Exxon’s Human Resource Department.

She also became one of Exxon’s delegates to Houston’s “United Way Campaign”. After retiring in 2000, she was hired back for the next three years as their representative to the United Way.  In 2004, seeking a slower life away from Houston, she and John moved to Kerrville.  But a slower life didn’t mean just sitting around.  For six years she was Social Chairman for Northwest Hills HOA.  She planned 4 parties and one subdivision-wide garage sale each year.  She also sewed, quilted and crocheted and was an active member of the Hill Country Caring Crafters.

Coline is survived by her husband John Schattyn; sister, Rebecca Elkins-Gluszek; brothers, James Richard Elkins and wife Sharon, Jeffery Lee Elkins; 4 nieces, 1 grand-niece, and 4 grandnephews.

Family services will be held after Christmas in St. Louis.  A memorial service in Kerrville will be scheduled sometime in January.

Donations in her name can be made to the American Cancer Society or to your favorite charity.

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of the professionals at Kerrville Funeral Home. (830) 895-5111