Bonnie Lee was born in Washington D.C. on Friday, the 9th of February, 1951 – the 40th day of 1951. She was the first child of twins and the 2nd of three children (2 girls - Bonnie Lee and Donna Rose, and 1 boy – Paul Daniel). Bonnie’s mother (Gladys Barnes) was of Irish/Welsh decent and her father (Joseph Greathouse) was a native American of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. 

Bonnie lived with her family in an eastern suburb of Washington D.C. -...

Bonnie Lee was born in Washington D.C. on Friday, the 9th of February, 1951 – the 40th day of 1951. She was the first child of twins and the 2nd of three children (2 girls - Bonnie Lee and Donna Rose, and 1 boy – Paul Daniel). Bonnie’s mother (Gladys Barnes) was of Irish/Welsh decent and her father (Joseph Greathouse) was a native American of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. 

Bonnie lived with her family in an eastern suburb of Washington D.C. - Lanham, Maryland. She attended local secondary schools and was a bundle of energy – very active and independent.  She had a number of pets – a dog named Prince, a hog named Hoggy, a duck named Quack Quack and a Chimpanzee named Champ.                                                                                 

As abuse in her family became unbearable, she became a runaway at age 13. She was one of many homeless children wandering the streets of Baltimore and Washington D.C. but determined to live life to the fullest.  It was at this time that she became aware that God had a purpose for her. She would go to sleep under the safety of bridges. You see, that was the safest place to hide and get rest, especially for a young woman while being homeless. She prayed God would grant her wisdom to make proper choices, and help others when she became an adult. I’m sure many of you can attest to her God-granted gift of wisdom. (Recall Pro 31:26 - She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.)

Because of her family background, she had no foundation or concept of a truly happy family, much less of a marriage. Some of you may be aware that she worked for IBM in the 70s and generated the very first database for the spell check facility in software - used by Microsoft to this day. She met the man (Hank) who was to be her companion through life - nearly 5 decades ago - at a singles dance get-together in Greenbelt, Maryland.  They dated for two years and became engaged in the early 70’s. They were married in a civil ceremony in April of 1974. She bore him three sons, Matthew, Mark and Erik. The eldest, Matthew, preceded her in death at the young age of twenty-five months.

In 1978 she accompanied her husband to a Worldwide Church of God Plain Truth subscribers meeting. They began attending the WCG in February of 1980 in Silver Spring, Maryland. In the Spring of 1997 - living in northern OH - they started attending the Philadelphia Church of God in the Akron/Canton Congregation. They retired to “South America” – Texas – in 2006 for her health. “Aunt Bonnie” - as she loved being called - was a PYC/SEP kitchen helper for 12 years – a dependable helper for God’s Church and His “special dietary needs” children, while at camp. Many campers and some adults would look to her for wisdom and advice. She was also known as the “Hat-Lady” in the Church.  She and her husband hosted many “Night to Be” formal dinners at their homes in Springtown, Texas, for the Fort Worth Texas Congregation and in North Olmsted, Ohio, for the Akron/Canton Congregation.

The rest you know through your personal contact with her over the last decade while here in Fort Worth and at Headquarters. From a very young age her number one heart’s desire was to have and be a member of a loving family.

She had also thanked God many times for inviting her into this Philadelphia Church of God Loving Family and appreciated the love they have enveloped her with and all of their prayers. I believe she wants her church family to remember her as a tireless worker for God’s Church and if – God willing - in the World Tomorrow.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her first born son, Matthew, only 25 months old.

Bonnie is survived by her husband, Henry, of 47 years; two sons, Mark and Erik; Erik’s wife, Heidi, and their two children; a granddaughter, Karli, and a grandson, Maverik.  

A Celebration of Bonnie's life is planned for Sunday, March 14th, 2021, from 1PM to 4PM in Fort Worth, Texas.