Vonda “Bonnie” Lea Pyles, 87, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. She was born on June 13, 1935, in Morgantown. Bonnie was preceded in death by the love of her life, John Emery Pyles. They were happily married for 66 years and had four daughters, Beverly, Debbie, Patty and Karen. Bonnie longed to be reunited with Jesus and John, as well as her infant daughter, Beverly.
Bonnie and John were an inseparable team of fulfilling the two greatest commands issued by Jesus, to love God and love people. They did exceptionally well in following both. She and John both came to faith in Jesus early in their married life. They truly exemplified what a life should look like as disciples of Jesus. People loved to be around them both, and Bonnie’s gift was making everyone she knew feel special. They genuinely loved people. It was not uncommon for them to get to know the sales clerk or waitress who served them by spending generous time with them.
Bonnie had the gift of hospitality and used it frequently. John and Bonnie knew how to have fun. Over the years they engaged in family camping, off-road motorcycling and boating on Cheat Lake. John and Bonnie’s childrearing philosophy revolved around church and family fun. Their motto was “the family that played together stayed together.”
Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Gertrude Lemley; her husband, John; and her infant daughter, Beverly. She is survived by three daughters and families, Debbie (Mark) Patton, Patty (Mick) Rabagia and Karen (Steve) Davis; and seven grandchildren: Stephen (Heidi) Patton, Megan (Zach) Wesseling, Jennifer (Robbie) Guzik, Loriann (Colin) Foster, Brittany (Jason) Hicks, Ethan Davis and Ashley (Tommy) O’Neil. She had 13 great-grandchildren; Sam, Claire, Lilly and Benjamin Wesseling, Asher, Ingrid and Eliza Patton, Paul and Piper Guzik, Michael Foster, Adalyn and Conor Hicks and Ella Jane O’Neil. Bonnie is also survived by her brother, Jack (Alice) Lemley, and four sisters-in-law, Verna Frisco, Alice Boyers, Roberta Pyles and Twylia Pyles.
We want to extend a special thank-you to the staff at both Harmony and Sundale for their love and care through this journey. You are much appreciated.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorial donations be made in Bonnie’s memory to WVU Children’s Hospital 1 Medical Center Drive Box 8200 (Suite 350, Van Voorhis) Morgantown, WV 26506.
A memorial service where friends and family will gather at the CMA church on Elmhurst Street, Morgantown, will be on Wednesday, Sept. 28. The viewing will be held at 10 a.m. and the funeral at 11 a.m. Pastor Will Coulson will conduct the service.
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