Evelyn O. Bonilla

Sue was born to Walter P. Richey, Sr. and Bessie Mae Cochran on January 1, 1930, in Fort Worth, Texas. She attended Baylor University where she met William D. Bonilla; the two married on April 10, 1950, and moved to Corpus Christi in 1953, where they would spend the rest of their lives together and raise six children.

Sue brought the same organization and steady hand to every part of her life. For years she served as office manager of her husband's law firm, and that same capability carried over into her home and into a remarkable list of civic commitments. Corpus Christi's women's pages chronicled her civic life: she served as president of the Opti-Mrs. Club, first vice president before that, and later secretary of its downtown chapter; president of Ladies LULAC; vice president of the L'Avenir Club; treasurer of the Memorial Hospital Women's Auxiliary; secretary of the Lawyers Wives Club; corresponding secretary, and later secretary with her husband, of the Sceptre Club. In 1966 she served as general chairman of the Corpus Christi Symphony Guild's 11th Annual Ball, the "Caribbean Cruise" gala held at the Corpus Christi Country Club. She was also a longtime member of the Community Council, the Incarnate Word Academy Kindergarten Mothers Club, St. Patrick's Mothers Club, the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, and the Baylor Alumni Association.

But for all her club leadership, those who knew her best said her real devotion was closer to home. Sue was deeply involved in the lives of each of her children, present for their schooling, their milestones, and their daily comings and goings.

On March 6, 1954, she was baptized into the Roman Catholic faith at St. Patrick's Church in Corpus Christi, a step that reflected the quiet faith that guided the rest of her life.

She is survived by her husband, William D. Bonilla, and five of their children: Mary Helen Battles, David Bonilla, Elizabeth Seeger, Susanne Harrold, and Robert Bonilla; a wide circle of 17 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, one great great grandchild; extended family, and the many friends she made across a lifetime of service to her community.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter P. Richey, Sr. and Bessie Mae Cochran, her brothers, Walter P. Richey, Jr. and John Hahn, her son Jonathan Richey Bonilla, and her son-in-law, Burna Battles.

A service is scheduled for September 19, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Memory Gardens Funeral Home with a reception to follow. The family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association at Alz.org.