Bonnie Barker Ortner

Bonnie wanted us to celebrate her Homecoming Day. After eight years of cancer and without her soul mate of over 58 years—Tony, Bonnie prayed, “Lord ring those golden bells in Jesus’ name”. Bonnie thanked God for her long, wonderful life & her many blessings. She counted her family, friends, caregivers, mentors & many miracles in her blessings. Bonnie said, “I’ll see you all when you get to heaven”.

On April 11, 2025 Bonnie was taken to the Emergency Room, at her former hospital, and was diagnosed with leukemia blast crisis & major systems failure. Although most patients suffer excruciating pain, Bonnie surprised doctors & nurses by having no pain. Praise God!

Bonnie mused that Tony had died at age 87 just before Easter and noted that she was age 87 just before Easter. Then Bonnie smiled, as she figured Tony died 8 years before, then said, “It’s all part of God’s Plan—Love is Eternal”. Eight days later, her peace gave Bonnie’s family & friends great comfort on the morning of April 19, 2025.

Since she was 4 years old at a tent revival, where she sang John 3:16 for her testimony, Bonnie believed her Faith in God & God’s Grace, forgiving our sins thru Jesus’ Sacrifice on the Cross for our atonement, will free us from Death and give us Eternal Life. Bonnie wished us all a balanced, fulfilling life overflowing with Love, Forgiveness, Joy, Hope and Peace.

Born in a log cabin, on thickly wooded land near the St. Mary’s River in St. George, GA, Bonnie Lee Barker was the fourth child of John Arthur Barker & Sara Virginia Barker. Her parents raised nine children on their farm. When she was ten, Bonnie was bitten on her foot by a copperhead snake. Too far away to reach a clinic in time, her family prayed for God to heal her and He did—her first miracle.

Bonnie proudly remembered how their family, with frugality, fun, grit, humor and unity, survived hard times caused by the Great Depression, two world wars, plus the Korean & Vietnam wars. Each child got a cup of sugar to ration over the week. Each child had to pony up some sugar, if they wanted dessert. They made clothes & underwear out of printed feed sacks. This could be embarrassing, if your buttons popped off your underpants on the playground, because elastic was rationed for the war efforts.

Gifting a sibling a homemade gift or an orange for their birthday was a big deal. Getting store bought underwear or socks under the tree and pieces of peppermint, nuts in the shell and an orange in their Christmas stockings brought great joy. Bonnie would say, “Simple makes life’s moments more special”.

A Daddy’s girl, Bonnie’s father had served in the US Army Air Corps Airship Reconnaissance Unit during World War I, where he taught Charles Lindbergh how to use the shortwave radio, before his famous flight. From the skies, her Father’s team also covered General Pershing’s Armada sailing into to New York City, to a heroes’ welcome at war’s end. Then Bonnie’s Father, Arthur, worked as a US Postal Service Rural Route Carrier and US Postmaster in St. George, marketed to northern cities as a “colony” community, where he, Mr. Ball and others served as community leaders.

Bonnie’s parents met in St. George, while Sara visited with her grandfather. Known as “Sadie”, Bonnie’s Mother had worked at a hotel in Pennsylvania and had wanted to open a Bed & Breakfast in St. George. After Bonnie’s parents married in 1935, Arthur built his bride their home 90 years ago from recycled store fronts and trees harvested & milled on their land. Sadie had a big family, welcoming extended family to visit and many grandchildren to stay all Summer and holidays. Besides running the farm, Sadie also cared for her husband, her nine children, her in-laws, and several spinster school teachers. Bonnie’s father-in-law greatly admired Sadie’s creativity, industriousness, nurturing nature and baking skills.

Inheriting her Mother’s cooking skills, Bonnie received the Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow Award in 1955, the year she graduated from St. George High School. Day of her award, Bonnie made pink pancakes for her siblings’ breakfast. A few got sick from a tummy flu, but blamed it on her cooking. Which became a public comedy later that day, like the movie Cheaper by the Dozen, when Bonnie received the award, golden pin and cookbook in the school auditorium.

As her high school class President, Bonnie organized fundraisers for her entire class to visit New York City and Washington DC. Bonnie was also captain of the women’s basketball team. Later she advocated for Title 9 to support and fund girls’ sports.

Thru 4-H, Bonnie incubated fertilized eggs & raised peeps, then sold her peeps & eggs. She used her $4,000 savings to pay for her first year of nursing school at Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, where she graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1959. Bonnie worked all four years as a nurse’s tech so she could graduate debt-free. She was trained by demanding WWII combat nurses & gained invaluable experience with polio patients on iron lungs, hydrocephalus babies bedridden with their heavy, enlarged heads & paralyzed patients.

At Augusta, Bonnie met her future husband Tony at a cookout the nursing students threw for the military. Tony’s friend Bud organized a double date to a polo match in nearby Aiken SC with Bonnie & her best friend Ruth the next day. Tony drove with Ruth next to him. Bud & Bonnie sat in the back, but Tony only had eyes for Bonnie in the rear view mirror. On the way back to Augusta, the young ladies switched places. Both couples found their true loves on that double date. Ever the romantics, Bonnie & Tony celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in Aiken SC at a polo match.

Tony pinned Bonnie right away with a special West Point pin. Tony’s Father drove up from St. Petersburg FL to Augusta GA right away to meet the woman, who captured his son’s heart. Later their families met & bonded deep sea fishing off Jacksonville’s coast. When Tony proposed, Bonnie accepted only on condition that they wait a year until she graduated from nursing school. They exchanged hundreds of letters while Tony was stationed at Fort Campbell KY. Bonnie thought that was the best foundation for their marriage—same values and priorities. To help Bonnie focus on studying for finals, Tony even sewed Bonnie’s beautiful wedding trousseau for their Bermuda honeymoon. Tony liked to say, “If you can read, you can do anything”. They were married on June 20, 1959 at First Baptist Church of St. George & had the reception in her parent’s home.

As an Army wife, Bonnie moved on average every 1.5 years over 20 years. A poor kid from Newark NJ, Tony had been enlisted six years, before attending West Point, and then serving as an officer for 20 years. Her new husband appreciated her adventurous spirit, self-reliance and most of all that she liked to fish & cook them too. Bonnie said she married Tony for his smile, his Irish tenor voice and his ability to play guitar & violin. Some of their favorite places to be stationed, besides Germany, were Columbus GA, Fort Rucker AL, Montgomery AL, Atlanta GA, Springfield VA and St. Louis MO. Part of Bonnie’s “MRS Degree” was helping Tony earn his various masters degrees—Management and Aerospace Structural Engineering, by typing all his papers.

From Fort Campbell Kentucky, the young couple moved to Baumholder, West Germany, where their first child Deanna was born in April 1960. Bonnie chose to be a full-time homemaker & community volunteer—first for American Red Cross, then for Brownies, Girl Scouts, Habitat for Humanity & Orange County Florida National Guard First Responders. She was always available for family, friends & their local church.

Leading up to his first deployment to Vietnam, Tony’s aircraft crashed in a farmer’s field. When rescuers found him, Tony wasn’t breathing, they resuscitated him & evacuated him to a military hospital. Forty years later, Tony & Bonnie met the farmer on her sister Audrey’s fishing pier at Amelia Island. They were thrilled to be able to thank him. Tony was paralyzed & had a C-11 fracture of his spine. The doctors didn’t know if he would be permanently paralyzed. Having cared for paralyzed patients, Bonnie knew how much their lives could change. She praised God for healing Tony, who even took a general on a combat jump in Vietnam six months later.

During Tony’s 1968 second tour to Vietnam, Bonnie’s younger siblings Irene, Kay & Rolf lived with her in Gainesville FL, which made time fly. With over 50% casualties in his unit, Tony made it home from two tours, despite lack of aircraft parts, bombs, rockets and snipers bullets.

Tony returned from Vietnam wanting to save lives. This meant navigating politics at the Pentagon & in Congress. Tony worked quietly with an aide for Senator Goldwater to accomplish things in the early 1970’s that still resonate today. Admiring Tony’s ability to plan and solve problems, Bonnie was also ready to have VIPs over for dinner or throw a party to support his efforts at the last minute. Her empathy & social graces, combined with her homemaking & floral arranging skills made Bonnie a strategic asset. Bonnie would also seek out people standing alone & strike up a conversation. Bonnie would say, “The person was either an introvert & ready to make friends or a big shot everyone else was afraid to talk to.”

Resilient, after a miscarriage & two atopic pregnancies leading to an emergency hysterectomy, Bonnie & Tony built a stronger bond. This gave them an opportunity to help family & neighbors in need more. From 1973-2013, various children & young adults filled their home with joy. Their daughter Deanna enjoyed having playmates & free entertainment.

Bonnie & Tony split most holidays between the Ortner’s & the Barker’s. Bonnie loved Tony’s family, especially his sister Marie & her husband Jim, as well as their children & grandchildren. Tony loved Bonnie’s family too & their Barker Reunions at the Okefenokee Swamp & other natural preserves, plus the talent shows. Marie’s sons celebrated some birthdays in St. George GA with the “cousins”. A RN, college professor, dean & great cook, Marie attended Barker family events. The Ortners also liked visiting her family in DC & the Tallahassee area—touring, playing board games & solving puzzles. Their families blended well & enjoyed each other’s company.

After 19 years being a homemaker, Bonnie went back to work as a nurse at Broward General Hospital, when Tony retired. After 26 years in the military, Tony bought a sailboat & a small home for the “empty-nesters, while he attended Nova University Law School & clerked for a judge. Bonnie & Tony loved for Deanna to bring friends home from college & they would take them for a boat ride thru the canals & on the sea. After their Ft. Lauderdale home was broken into twice, Bonnie & Tony moved to an Orlando FL suburb, where Tony practiced law & Bonnie worked at Florida Hospital, now Advent Health Main in Cardiac ICU. Bonnie loved her work & orienting new nurses. Given a pastor parking pass, Tony would visit patients & pop in to see Bonnie about five days per week.

In Orlando, Bonnie and Tony were active in Rotary, Habitat & their church. Bonnie was a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow and went with Tony to England & Oregon when he was president. Often they ran into her sister & brother-in-law Yvonne & Walter Sr. at Rotary events. For their 25th wedding anniversary, Bonnie & Tony visited their daughter in Germany where she lived after college & they toured Austria together. After disasters like Hurricanes Andrew & Katrina, Tony & Bonnie facilitated Habitat missions to affected areas. They also raised $130,000 & built three homes thru their church & worked on more. They traveled to the Holy Lands in Israel and went to Brazil on a medical & music mission to San Paulo & Rio de Janeiro.

Bonnie & Tony admired her brother Bill’s missionary work that the North Atlanta church he pastored, with his wife Sukie, did in Ghana & his church’s food bank, that fed 2,000 families per week. Bonnie & Tony also eagerly volunteered for Irene’s & her husband Randy’s Bethlehem LIVE & Jerusalem LIVE events they hosted as community outreach.

Since Johnny, Walter Sr. & Tony all attended Georgia Tech at the same time, Bonnie enjoyed spending more time with Johnny & Yvonne’s families. Big sister Yvonne had bought measuring cups & a sifter to help Bonnie set-up housekeeping as a new bride. Plus Yvonne drove Bonnie & Deanna to the hospital after Tony was injured in the plane crash. Bonnie loved keeping up the tradition of visiting her Mother’s family in Pennsylvania with her sister Sue. Picking blueberries at their travel buddy Sue’s farm became a much anticipated annual event with Bonnie & Tony. As for contests, Bonnie & Tony and her “biggest” sister Audrey & her husband Richard, were always ready to go fishing—anywhere, anytime and all day, any day. Bonnie always said, “The best times are with family”.

Bonnie & Tony celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Jacksonville at the Alhambra dinner with their daughter & siblings. For Bonnie’s 2003 retirement they went on an Alaskan cruise & caught salmon. For Tony’s 75th birthday in 2005, they went to China, which gave them insights useful in the current drum beat towards war.

As super voters, Bonnie & Tony enthusiastically poll-watched elections & vote recounts. They would also help Deanna knock doors for AFP & OCREC, put up yard signs and volunteer at rallies & other political events. As Precinct Committee Women, Bonnie & Deanna supported the Orange County FL GOP—“local action for national impact”.

Bonnie was our “Horse Feathers” detector. Little got past her. Especially about politicians and propagandists, regardless of party, Bonnie would always comment, “Watch what they DO, not what they SAY!” or “Something just isn’t right—those numbers don’t add up”.

Last year, Jackie Harbaugh Burkey & her husband Dave visited Bonnie in the hospital for her operations. In March 2025, Bonnie really enjoyed supper with Jackie & Dave together in Orlando. Bonnie also appreciated her sister Kay checking on her daily, since she’d missed family events due to fatigue. In March, Bonnie felt like she was getting stronger, until she was in crisis in April.

Having survived two near death experiences in 1973 & 2017, Bonnie knew what it’s like to be enveloped by overwhelming Love, Joy & Peace in heaven, so much so that she didn’t want to leave. Jesus gave Bonnie a choice & both times she came back for her daughter—“The Gift of a Godly Mother”.

God still had a plan for her life, especially last year when she had a broken thigh, a new cancer diagnosis of fast growing angio-sarcoma, a heart attack & four surgeries, throughout which she had little pain. God healed her leg quickly, healed her heart valves so she didn’t need a fifth surgery, reduced her arterial sclerosis from moderate to mild and, greatest of all, God turned her biopsied angio-sarcoma into a benign mass, that was still clear six months later. Praise God for giving us an extra year with Bonnie, where we could enjoy her Affirmations, her Wisdom, her Laughter, her Texts, her Nudges, her Hugs and her Love!

At her end and new beginning, Bonnie knew that she was going to heaven & had no regrets that her time had come. Bonnie thanked God for you all & wanted everyone to know how much she loved & cared for each of you. Bonnie loved camping, fishing & walking in the woods or on the beach, especially at St. Mary’s River & Amelia Island. She said, “It makes me feel closer with God and loved ones.” Like Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” Now Bonnie’s at a big jamboree in heaven waiting for us. Praise God! Amen!

Bonnie Barker Ortner's Homecoming Memorial Service will be on Saturday, May 3, 2025 11AM at St. George Baptist Church, 1125 Cotton Street, St. George, GA with a reception following the service in the church's Life Center across the street.