Dr. David Betts: 1952-2011

Dr. David Betts of Mountlake Terrace Eye Care passed away on Monday, July 4. David Betts was active in the Mountlake Terrace community not only as a business owner but as a member of the Downtown Revitalization Committee which set the vision for the Town Center in the 90’s. Mountlake Terrace Eye Care has been located in downtown Mountlake Terrace for nearly 20 years.

See below for an obituary and article about the cause of death:

David William ‘Vasilios’ Betts Born in Fort Campbell, Kentucky on May 27, 1952, where his father, Lt. Col. Thomas Betts and family were stationed in the Air Force. Before moving to Seattle in 1962 with his family, David enjoyed traveling to other air force stations in several different states. He graduated from Shoreline High School in 1970, and went on to attend Washington State University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Bacteriology and Public Health. There he met Mary, his beloved future wife. They were married in November of 1976 and moved to southern California where he attended the Southern California College of Optometry, earning his Doctorate of Optometry in 1981.

After moving back to Seattle, Dave went on to establish successful optometric practices in both Seattle and Mountlake Terrace while maintaining membership in the Washington Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association. During that time he had two children, Michael William and Megan Margaret Kay, to whom he became a respected role model while immersing himself in their lives as a sports coach, scoutmaster, and loving father. During his life, Dr. Betts was active in his community as a member of the Mountlake Terrace Planning Committee, served as president/treasurer within the parish council of Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church, which he also helped to establish in its current location.

He was an avid camper, boater, fisherman, skier, and part time farmer at his in-laws’ fruit ranch in Grandview, Washington. He and his family enjoyed traveling to many places including Greece, Turkey, Italy, Mexico, and even the Matterhorn in Switzerland upon which he skied for his 30th wedding anniversary. Dave was a true leader and an example to everyone whose lives he touched. He loved his family, religion, and cared deeply for his friends and patients alike.

David is survived by his wife Mary, children Michael and Megan, son-in-law Brandon, mother Kay, mother-in-law Sarah Baumgartel, brother Mike, sister-in-law Sue, their children Kristen and Thomas, as well as many loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. David was preceded in death by his father, Thomas, in 1989. His unequivocal kindness, generosity, and fun-loving personality will forever remain in our hearts.He is irreplaceable, and we will love him always.

Please celebrate the life of this wonderful man with us on Monday July 11th beginning at the Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church @ 11 am. A time of viewing will be held the night before on Sunday, July 10th from 5-7 at Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home in Seattle.

From the Seattle Times:

In Grandview, Yakima County, a 59-year-old Bothell man drowned in a pool Monday. Chief Civil Deputy Dave Thompson of the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, said David Betts went for a swim in his mother-in-law’s pool a little before 5 p.m., while his wife took a nap. She woke at about 5:30 and went to join him, but found him floating facedown in the pool. She and her mother attempted to pull him out as they waited for authorities. Grandview police performed CPR until medics arrived.

There was no visible sign of injury, nor anything around the pool that suggested how the accident happened, the sheriff’s office said.

Betts had no known medical condition that would have caused his death. He was an avid swimmer and bike rider, his wife said. His autopsy is planned for Wednesday morning, according to Yakima County Coroner Jack Hawkins

  1. I am so sad about this. We have loved Dr. Betts and the care we’ve received from his practice in Mountlake Terrace. Our condolences go out to his family.

  2. I still can’t believe this.  Our entire family loved David and he has been our eye-doc since moving to MLT.  It’s surreal to view my screen while typing this and wearing glasses he prescribed.  We’ll miss you doc… our sincere condolences to his family, his friends, colleagues and staff.

  3. Dr. Betts was a kind, gentle man with a wonderful sense of humor.  Our family will miss him.  Our prayers for his family.

  4. Our hearts go out to his family, what a tragedy. I know the Mountlake Terrace will also miss him. He was a great man, a great Doctor.
    Thank you Dr Betts for your wonderful caring demeanor, you will me missed.

  5. Wow!  So sad to hear about this as I was stumbling around the internet.  He has been my eye doctor for as long as I can remember, he will be missed!  Our condolences to his family, friends and staff.

  6. I was saddended to hear of David’s passing.  He cared for our family’s eye doctor for years. He always took the time to get to know his patients. Our family offers our deepest condolonces to his family. 

  7. I am so shocked and sad to hear about Dr. Betts’ passing. He inheritted me as a patient when he bought the practice in MLT. He gave us the best vision care ever. We will miss him. Our best wishes go out to his family.

  8. May god bless Mary and children and welcome David to heaven. I ran Merry Mowers and worked for David & Mary at his office and home. He was my eye doctor for years. David & Mary were some of the kindest people I have known. I was grateful they didn’t mind a woman landscaper, I was very happy doing it. He found me glasses I couldn’t break. I still needed my eyeglasses adjusted often in the landscaping business and David took great care of me. David was a blessing to everyone who knew him and his wife is just as kind. I am very sorry to hear of his passing. I moved to Arizona and so didn’t know of his passing until now. I wanted to call and ask him a question about an eye problem from long ago.

  9. I went to Shoreline HS with Dave. We were great friends and I often wondered where he ended up. I decided to Google him and found that he had passed. I am very saddened to read this. I was hoping for a great reunion with my friend Dave. I loved to make him laugh and he did the same for me. I miss him already and sorry I didn’t look him up sooner.. Dan Dickson

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