Donna Gail Bonham

Donna Gail Bonham, age 71, of Shepherdsville, Kentucky, was called home to be with the Lord, surrounded by her loving family. She entered eternal rest on the day she was born, a rare and sacred closing of life’s circle.

Across many faiths and traditions, such a passing is seen as a sign of completion; a soul finishing its earthly work exactly where it began. For those who loved her, this day will forever hold both light and shadow; a birthday now intertwined with farewell. Yet within the sorrow rests a quiet blessing: that her spirit chose a moment rich with meaning to slip from this world into the next, leaving behind a life fully lived and a love that will never fade.

Donna was born on February 6th, 1955, in Kenvir, Kentucky, affectionately known to her family as Black Mountain. She came into this world shaped by a coal miner’s grit and a mountain woman’s soul, born to the late Charlene (Hughes) and Anthony Edgar White. From the depths of the mines and the strength of the holler, she inherited a spirit both fierce and faithful. From her earliest days, Donna carried an unbreakable will and a fire within her, beautifully balanced by a compassionate heart and a love that reached everyone she met.

She graduated from Manual High School in 1973 and soon after married her high school sweetheart Ronnie, beginning a love story that would carry her into the next chapter of her life. Together, they moved to Germany during Ronnie’s Army service, where she embraced the culture with curiosity and enthusiasm. She took creative writing classes and traveled across Europe, marveling at its history and beauty. During this chapter, she became a mother, adding the joy of nurturing new life to her own journey of discovery. Among her treasured memories there was seeing the Eiffel Tower in France, a lasting symbol of wonder and the joy she found in embracing the world around her, a moment when the vastness of the world felt both humbling and full of promise.

Upon returning to Kentucky, life began to settle, and the family joyfully welcomed two more daughters. The steady rhythm of daily life took hold, and Donna balanced work while continuing her education, embracing each responsibility with determination and grace. She was a proud graduate of the University of Louisville, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Donna devoted more than 40 years of her life to serving others, first as an emergency room nurse at Southwest Hospital and later in home health care. Her years spent at Southwest Hospital were among her most cherished memories. There, she and her colleagues formed a rare and deeply meaningful work family-one that few are ever lucky enough to experience. Donna was a brilliant and steady presence in moments of crisis and comfort alike; she was more than a nurse; she was a healer. Through her work, she inspired countless colleagues and caregivers, leading by quiet examples and compassionate strength. During her years in home health care, she formed deep and lasting connections with the families and patients she served, offering not only skilled care but genuine love and understanding. Her dedication, kindness, and humanity left an indelible mark on countless lives, and her legacy of compassion will live on through all those she touched.

Donna was a woman of quiet strength and deep love, with her family at the center of everything she did. She was a loving wife, a caring mother, a cherished grandmother, a beloved sister, and a loyal friend. Her love was steady and unwavering, shown in her presence, her patient guidance, and the everyday ways she nurtured and protected those she held dear. Her home was a place of warmth, comfort, and belonging, a reflection of the love that defined her life.

She is survived by her loving husband, Ronnie Keith Bonham; her daughters, Kimberlee Ann Carley (Bruce), Amanda Lee Bonham Summers (Bradley), and Amee Christina Wojciechowski (Adam); her brother, Michael Tony White (Lisa); her sister-in-law, Carolyn Bonham Smithers, and her treasured grandchildren, Jacob Isaiah Carley, Madison Elizabeth Carley, Olivia Grace Bonham Summers, Jackson Cole Carley, Mason Bradley Bonham Summers, Eisley Adeline Wojciechowski, and Gabriel Joseph Wojciechowski. She also leaves behind many extended family members, dear friends, and grateful colleagues who will forever carry her memory in their hearts.

In addition to her parents, Donna was preceded in death by her siblings, Anthony Junior White, Danny Edgar White, Jimmy Ronald White, and Betty Ann White, whom she now joins in eternal peace.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, February 12th, 2026, from 4-8pm at Arch L. Heady & Son Funeral Home, 8519 Preston Highway, Louisville, Kentucky 40219.

A funeral service will be held at 10am on Friday, February 13th, 2026, at Duncan Memorial, 5600 Old Floydsburg Road, Crestwood, Kentucky 40014.

Donna will be laid to rest at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery, 2501 N. Dixie Boulevard, Radcliff, Kentucky 40160.

Memorial donations may be made in Donna’s honor to support cancer research, inspired by her courageous battle against ampullary cancer and the many cancer battles faced by those closest to her heart.

Donna’s life was a beautiful testament to service, compassion, and love. Though she will be deeply missed, her light continues to shine through every life she touched along her earthly journey.