Bodenhorn, Bonnie Bump

Margaret Ellen “Bonnie” Bump Bodenhorn, resident of Warm Hearth Village in Blacksburg, Va, died on November 7, 2016. Bonnie was born in Susanville, California on September 16, 1920, to the late Sumner and Margaret Bump.

During her long and productive life, she worked on hospital trains for the Red Cross during WWII, and was a teacher and advocate. Much of her teaching career was in math at community and 4-year colleges. A proud graduate of Stanford University in history, Bonnie also earned her master’s degree from John Carroll University in math. She enjoyed traveling and lived in the Philippines, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Hampshire, Nigeria, Columbus, and Cleveland, Ohio, but always wanted to return to northern California for retirement. She spent twenty years in Davis, California prior to moving to Blacksburg. Bonnie is missed for her dedication to equality and human rights, commitment to family, generosity, grace, and appreciation of and devotion to natural settings.

Bonnie is survived by her loved, loving, and grateful family, her husband of 70 years, Diran Bodenhorn of Blacksburg; daughter, Shorey Bodenhorn Lee of Michigan; son, Alan Bodenhorn of Blacksburg; daughter and son-in-law, Nancy Bodenhorn and Jeff Legge, of Blacksburg, and their children and grandchildren Paul, Kim, Braylen, Zoey and Macey Legge of Grand Rapids, MI, and Jenny, Steve, Benjamin and Cecilia of Chicago. Additionally, Bonnie’s loss is felt by her extended family of nieces and nephews in New York, Maryland, California, and Colorado.

A celebration of her life will be held early next year at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Blacksburg. As a tribute, please make contributions to the national or local Sierra Club or Equal Justice Initiative.