| Rev. Gary W. Bonnell (February 28, 1932 - December 9, 2006) Rev. Gary W. Bonnell, 74, went home to be with the Lord, December 9, 2006 at St. Joseph Hospice Care in Lexington, KY. He was born in Salem, West Virginia on February 28, 1932; he was the son of the late Malena L. and Gertrude M. Hughes Bonnell. Rev. Bonnell was a retired ordained Baptist minister of the American Baptist Churches, U.S.A., with thirty-seven years of full-time professional ministry. He served churches in West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania. After retiring and moving to Richmond, Kentucky, Rev. Bonnell served 8 years as a part time pastor of the Wallaceton Baptist Church, a Southern Baptist Convention Church, at Paint Lick, Kentucky (near Richmond and Berea). He was a member of First Baptist Church, Richmond, Kentucky and Simpson Creek Baptist Church of Bridgeport, West Virginia. Rev. Bonnell wrote a weekly news column in retirement entitled “Faith Lifters” for the Richmond, (KY) Register, with a circulation of nearly 10,000 subscribers an the Harlan Daily News of Harlan, KY, with a circulation of 5,000 for 8 Years. He also taught a course, “Laughter, Faith & How To Stay Well” in the community education department of Eastern Kentucky University of Richmond, Kentucky. He served as secretary of the Greater Richmond Ministerial Association. Was Moderator of several Baptist Associations and served on the State Board of Managers of three state conventions. Rev. Bonnell was president of the West Virginia Baptist Ministries Advisory Council and a trustee of Alderson-Broaddus College, Philippi, West Virginia. He has been active in the communities where he served as pastor and was a member of the Lion’s Club and the Masonic Lodge. He received the “Church of The Year” award by the Indiana Baptist Convention in 1983, for outstanding growth and leadership while pastor of the First Baptist Church of Scottsburg, Indiana. His sermon: “Needed: A New Birth” was selected nationally and published in the book “Experience-Living-Sharing Christ” by Judson Press, 1976. He was listed in “Whose Who in Religion”, 1975-76 issue. He received his Bachelor of Art degree (A.B.), with a major in history, from Alderson-Broaddus College, Philippi, West Virginia, a Master of Religious Education (M.R.E.) degree from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a Masters of Divinity (M. Div.) from the Methodist Theological School of Ohio, in Delaware, Ohio and completed all the residency requirements and field work assignments, with high honors, except for the thesis-project, for the Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.) degree at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky. In addition to his wife, Mrs. Eleanor L. Bonnell, he is survived by three daughters, Marlene (Dr. Steven) Malone of Portland, Oregon, Melanie (Michael) Roberts of Charleston, Illinois, Michele Ryan of St. Louis, Missouri and two grandchildren, Rebecca and Zeke Roberts of Charleston, Illinois. Also six half-brothers and sisters, all deceased: Stanley R. Davisson, Frankie White, Harrison Davisson, Junior Davisson, Mildred Novotny, Homer Davisson. Also deceased are one brother Ronald Bonnell and a sister Janet Brewer. Funeral services will be conducted by Oldham, Roberts & Powell Funeral Home Monday December 11, 2006 with visitation at First Baptist Church from 4:00 P.M. -6:45 P.M. followed by a Masonic Service at 6:45 P.M. and a Christian Funeral Service at 7:00 P.M., with Rev. Curtis Warf and Rev. Hamp Valentine officiating. A similar service will be held at the Burnside Funeral Home with Interment following in Bridgeport Cemetery in Bridgeport, West Virginia, later in the week. |