Bonnie Blackburn Hontz's Obituary
Bonnie Blackburn Hontz, 90, was received by God into eternal life on Tuesday, March 21, 2017. She joins her husband, Melvin Andrew Hontz and her youngest daughter, Kristin Noel Hontz. Left behind to cherish het life are son, Timothy Lane Hontz of Houston, Texas, and daughter, Marci Hont Cameron of Plano, Texas. Bonnie Jean Blackburn Hontz was born in Cleveland, Oklahoma on September 13, 1926, the second daughter of Henry Martin Blackburn and Elizabeth Mable Ramsey Blackburn. She was sister to Lucille Blackburn Belch. Growing up in Oklahoma during this time was rough and challenging as Oklahoma endured the Dust Bowl years, the Great Depression and World War II. When her parents and sister moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma during the later years of World War II, Bonnie remained in Cleveland to finish out high school. Many school papers contained her name for achievement in grades and contribution to the Cleveland High Tigers’ Tale publication. Named Valedictorian for her Senior year in 1944, she then joined her family in Tulsa where she held positions at downtown department stores and as an executive secretary for Bethlehem Steel. Bonnie was an active member and Sunday School teacher at Boston Avenue Methodist Church, Tulsa. She also produced an illustrated cover page drawing for their monthly congregational publication, The Church Mouse. After World War II ended, Melvin, a young Army veteran from Pennsylvania, traveled to Tulsa to attend Spartan Aeronautics. Here he met his bride-to-be on a blind date. After Melvin completed his training at Spartan and returned to Pennsylvania, he and Bonnie wrote bundles of letters back and forth. Bonnie did have some set standards on who she would marry; someone tall, someone talkative and someone from Oklahoma, preferably Tulsa. Melvin did not seem to have any of these qualities. He was 5’9″ to her 5’7″, had only said a handful of words on their first date and he was from Summit Hill, Pennsylvania. However, when he wrote to her in early 1948 asking if he had a chance, she quite coyly said if he returned to Tulsa … well, she’d see. Melvin and Bonnie were married at Boston Avenue Methodist Church in Tulsa, on July 3, 1948. Their son, Tim was born on May 20, 1949; daughter, Marci on June 15, 1951; daughter Kristin, December 4, 1969. Melvin and Bonnie enjoyed the next 57 years as husband and wife and best friends. Bonnie provided loving guidance for her family and will be remembered for her faith, ‘strength, integrity, honesty, and unconditional love. Her experience drawing for the Church Mouse, lead to other work with her hands. Her beautiful writing was put to good use in her service to Good Shepherd Lutheran church; Tulsa, Oklahoma where she wrote both Baptismal and Confirmation Certificates. She was an accomplished seamstress, knitted, crocheted and made hand stitched quilts and wall hangings. Every seam and stitch was lovingly created. We will remember these things, her blue eyes and her smile. Bonnie was a baptized a child of God who knew and loved God the Father, Jesus Christ his Son and the Holy Spirit. She was confident in the Grace of Salvation and was prepared for her final day on this earth. After, her faith she cherished and loved her family, friends and neighbors. Funeral services were held at Faith Lutheran Church in Plano, TX. on Friday, Mach 24, 2017. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, at Restland Road, Dallas, TX 75243.
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