Bonnie R. Willhite (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Bonnie Ruth Willhite, daughter of Frank and Norma Spencer, was born on October 10, 1931. Bonnie earned her wings Thursday, March 12, 2020 at the age of eighty-eight years, five months and two days.
On December 28, 1951, she was united in marriage to Robert Dale Willhite and to this union three sons and four daughters were born.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dale; a son, Larry; two brothers, Glen and Dorsey Spencer; and one granddaughter, Kimberly Smith.
Bonnie is survived by a son, Bob Willhite, and his wife Debra, of Rolla; a daughter, Debi Alleger, and her husband, Jack, of Strafford; a daughter Elaine VanNoy, and her husband, John, of Springfield; a son, Don Willhite, and his wife, Debbie, of Roby; a daughter Penny Morrison, and her husband, Kevin, of Lynchburg; a daughter, Nancy Grisham of Arlington, Texas; thirteen grandchildren: Josh, Becky, Dan, Max, Carrie, Jeff, Jim, Sarah, Heather, MacKenzie, Jack, Reagan and Madison; twenty-five great grandchildren: Cia, Audra, Silas, Pandora, Beatrix, Felix, Penelope, Ben, Brina, Blake, Allison, Dylan, Logan, Isabella, Leah, Kingston, Landon, Hayden, Cash, Myles, Kipp, Scout, Dax, Lincoln and Londyn; two great-great grandchildren: Emma and Emberlyn; one brother, Leonard Spencer, of Cabool; special nephew Steve Spencer and his wife Karen, of Roby; special friend and neighbor, Theresa Helton of Plato; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
Bonnie graduated from Plato High School in 1951 and after working for a while at Fort Leonard Wood, she decided to stay at home and lovingly raise her seven children. During this time she also cared for the children of family and friends. In the fall of 1978 she started cooking for Plato Schools. She enjoyed this job, the people, and the students for twenty five years. After retiring, Bonnie enjoyed spending her time preparing family dinners, Cross Country spaghetti dinners, babysitting her grandkids, gardening, working in her yard, and Red Hat Lady outings. One activity she especially enjoyed for nineteen years was volunteering in the kindergarten classroom and visiting the kinder kids at Plato Schools. She also loved baking and making her famous cinnamon rolls for her family and others to enjoy.
Bonnie was saved as a young girl and was a member of the Plato Christian Church. She loved Jesus and made sure her children attended church and knew the Lord. She was a devoted wife, the best mom, a wonderful grandma and memaw, and a beloved friend and neighbor. We celebrate her life, her legacy and know that she will be remembered always and with a smile by those blessed to know and love her.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, March 15 at 2 p.m. at the Plato Christian Church. A visitation will follow.
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