LINDA (ATIYEH) DONCHEZ, 84, of Vineland, NJ went home to be with the Lord this Wednesday past, June 3, 2015 after an extended illness. Linda was the founder and life-long Chairwoman and CEO of American Transport Systems of Vineland since its inception in 1983. Mrs. Donchez was born on September 27, 1930 in New Kensington, Pennsylvania and was a National Honor Society graduate of Allentown High School, Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1948. Upon graduation from high school, she served as a Surgical Transcriptionist for a plastic surgeon in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She then went on to serve as Executive Secretary to the President of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Bethlehem, PA. In that year, she met and married the love of her life, Rev. Dr. Joseph S. Donchez, and together they were married for sixty-four years and having four children, 13 grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. Linda worked hard during her early years of marriage to put her husband through college and seminary, and served as the "Pastor's Wife" to her husband's congregations in Weatherly, Pennsylvania (1959-1961), Johnstown, Pennsylvania (1961-1964) and Vineland, New Jersey (1964-1982). While in Vineland, Linda worked a variety of jobs, and most notably for Les Kotok at Beltone Hearing Aids; for Drs. David Blom and Albert Shapiro, and also for Stan and Mike Greenblatt at Wares Van and Storage/United Van Lines. In 1983, Linda Donchez formed and started American Transport Systems with a $25,000. loan, out of the basement of her home. American Transport Systems thrives to this day, is under family ownership and management, with a presence in most of the lower 48 States, and parts of Canada and Mexico. ATS is headquartered in the Vineland Industrial Park. Mrs. Donchez traveled extensively throughout the world, accompanying her husband on periodic trips to Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Her husband accompanied her, to Tokyo, Japan, when in her capacity as CEO of ATS she was invited as a guest of the Mitsubishi International Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. This was remarkable for the time as woman executives were unheard of in Japan. She and her husband toured the country for two (2) weeks, and held meetings at six (6) different Mitsubishi facilities during that trip. Mrs. Donchez was also active with the Salvation Army of Vineland, and served with distinction on the Advisory Board. Mrs. Donchez was preceded in death by her father and mother, Ilias (Elias) and Rogena (Haddad) Atiyeh, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, who emigrated to this country from Amar al Hosyn, Syria, by a brother Ernest Atiyeh, Sr., sisters Rose (Atiyeh) Abraham, and Selma (Atiyeh) Treiber, all of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and also, her loving husband of 64 years, Rev. Dr. Joseph S. Donchez. She is survived by her sons Jeffrey Joseph (and wife Lauren King) of Edmonds, Washington, granddaughter Tamar (husband: Pat) Maines of Edison, Washington, grandson Alexander of Edmonds, Washington, and granddaughter Mercedes of Seattle, Washington; son Stephen Wayne of Millville and Theresa Yocum-Donchez of Round Rock, Texas, granddaughter Denver Elizabeth of San Marcos, Texas; granddaughter Katherine (husband: Toby) Blasingame, of Austin, Texas, and grandson Andrew, of Round Rock, Texas, son Christian Elias and wife Marie (Rauco), of Chadds Ford, PA, grandson Zachary of Blacksburg, Virginia, and granddaughters Maddie and Skylar, all of Chadds Ford, PA; daughter Jane Louise (husband: Aurelio) Alfaro of Bear, Delaware, granddaughter Nicole Martin of Seattle, Washington; granddaughters Maria Elana, Natalia and Tatiana, all of Bear, Delaware. Mrs. Donchez also has seven great grandchildren. Christian services will be held at 4pm on Friday, June 5th at the Wainwright-Bernhardt Funeral Home 1024 E. Landis Ave. Vineland, NJ. Friends and family may call at the funeral home from 2pm-4pm prior to the service at the funeral home. Family and friends may gather at Marciano's Restaurant on North Delsea Drive immediately following the funeral service. A private burial will take place at a later date at Cedar Hill Memorial Park Cemetery, Allentown, Pennsylvania. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mrs. Donchez's name to either the First Presbyterian Church of Vineland, or the Salvation Army of Vineland, NJ (please specify "Vineland Corps"). Please visit wbfuneralhome.com to send online condolences to the family. Arrangements are by the WAINWRIGHT-BERNHARDT Funeral Home, Vineland.