Joan C. Bonnell

Joan C. Bonnell, 84 MUNCIE, Indiana -- Joan C. (Limbert) Bonnell, 84, passed away surrounded by love and family Friday at Westminster Village Health Center after a long illness. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 64 years, Donald G. Bonnell. A Muncie native and graduate of Muncie Central High School, she completed the National Aquatics School program and taught swimming for several years for the American Red Cross at Tuhey Pool and the downtown YWCA. Joan was a Girl Scout, earning the highest ranking possible. At Muncie Central, she was on Senior Council and was an officer of Violet Club before going to Ball State, where she became a charter member of the Gamma Mu chapter of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. Upon graduation from Ball State University, she taught at Stevenson Elementary School in the Muncie Community Schools before retirement. Joan was a lifelong loyal Bearcat, and part of the reunion planning committees in recent years. In her final year, she was pleased to serve on the Westminster Resident's Council during the planning of the expansion of that facility and was honored to have been part of the groundbreaking. She loved doll collecting, painting and...[more]

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awing, quilting, reading, bicycling, and was especially interested in people and their stories. She treasured her many friends, particularly those from girlhood and school, and made new friends easily. To her last days, she enjoyed visiting about the widest range of topics. A member from birth of Muncie's St. John's Universalist Church, she was fascinated by religious matters, political discussions, and before her final illness, she had recently completed an online course from Hillsdale College on the U.S. Constitution. She enjoyed telling about the accomplishments of her five children and granddaughter. She is survived by a daughter, Susan B. Burns of Fort Wayne, and four sons, Clayton C. (Claudia) Bonnell, Fairfax, VA; Timothy D. Bonnell, Indianapolis; Philip P. Bonnell, Muncie; and Andrew J. (Brooke) Bonnell, Muncie; and a granddaughter, Catherine N. Burns, Los Angeles, CA. She is also survived by her dear younger brother, Jerry V. (Mary) Limbert, Niles MI; six Limbert nieces, and nephews, six Bonnell nieces and nephews and many great nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Victor and Cordelia Limbert and older brother and sister-in-law, Jack L. and Nancy Limbert. A celebration of Mrs. Bonnell's life and a memorial for Mr. Bonnell will be at Elm Ridge Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 4600 Kilgore Ave., Muncie, IN, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, followed by a service and graveside inurnment. Friends and family may call at the funeral home one hour before the memorial services. For those who would prefer a memorial gift in lieu of flowers, donations to Minnetrista, 1200 N. Minnetrista Parkway, Muncie, IN 47304 are suggested.