Bonnie Jane Barnts, 69, of Venice, Fla., formerly of Morgantown, passed into the presence of her Lord after a long bout with cancer. Janice Magro, a longtime friend was with her at the time of death.
Bonnie was born July 18, 1950, in Monticello, Iowa, a daughter of the late Eugene Thomas and Emily Ellen Barnts.
She attended Monticello Community Schools until she and her parents moved to Morgantown where she graduated from University High School. After a two-year term in the Army where she received her LPN degree, Bonnie received the Lord into her life and felt the call to missions, becoming a part of New Tribes Missions for a short time. Her love for people took her on short-term missions’ trips to Mali, West Africa and the Dominican Republic. She was employed as an LPN at the West Virginia University Hospitals until her retirement.
She was a longtime, very active member of the Morgantown Christian and Missionary Alliance Church where she held various positions including Deaconess and Youth Sponsor. After moving to Venice in 2016, she attended New Hope Community (Alliance) Church in North Port, Fla., joining the Helping Hands Committee and the Thanksgiving Committee where she assisted in serving meals to over 2000 people each holiday. Bonnie was loved by all who met her.
Bonnie is survived by two sisters, Cerena Fischer and husband, Rudy, of Chicago, and Lucy Freed, of Morgantown; and a brother, Tom and wife, Nikki, of Wilmington, N.C. Surviving also are nine nieces and nephews, 23 grand-nieces and nephews as well as several cousins and Brownie, her beloved canine companion for 17 years.
A memorial service with the Rev. Douglas Miller officiating will be held at Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, in Morgantown, at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20. A picnic meal open to all of her family and friends will be held at 5 p.m. A private burial will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, 308 Elmhurst St., Morgantown, WV 26505.
