Born in Harrisburg, IL, daughter of Charles E. and Pearl Newkirk; graduate of Ritenour High School in St. John Station, Missouri in 1943, after lettering in Field Hockey in her Jr. and Sr. years. She attended Shurtleff College in Alton, IL, before attending the Ohio State University and graduating with a B.S in Art Education in 1948. She was inducted in Delta Phi Delta National Fine Arts Honorary Society in May of 1948. During her college years, she was an Umpire for Intramural Field Hockey certified by U.S. Field Hockey Association.
She started her teaching career in Ashland City Schools, Ashland, OH as Art Instructor and Supervisor of Elementary Art from 1948-1951. She worked on her Masters in Art Education from 1948-1951 at the Ohio State University during her summer breaks. In 1951, she moved to Marietta, OH to teach as an Elementary Art Teacher for Marietta City Schools. She met the love of her life Lawrence Bagwell in Marietta and married him in June of 1952. They were together until his death in 1992. Bonnie taught from 1951 until 1955 when she quit to raise her 3 young children. She returned to teaching in 1967 as an art instructor at the Marietta Junior High School and taught there until her retirement in 1984.
While in Marietta she was on the Board of Directors for the Betsy Mills Club, the Women’s Home Board, Girl Scout Troop Leader, 4-H Leader, member of the Eastern Star, former member of Christ United Methodist Church, Women’s League of Voters, and the AAUW. Her love for the arts and teaching continued her entire life; as she loved to paint, restore art antiques to their original form and to educate others on the history of her art antiques.
She moved to Port St. Lucie in 1987 with her husband and after her husband’s death she moved to King’s Isle in Port St. Lucie West. She was very active in the development of King’s Isle where she served as President of the Isle of Lombardy Board of Directors and President of Kings Isle Board of Directors. She was also a past president of the St. Lucie West President’s Council.
Survivors include two daughters, Dana Bagwell of Manheim, Germany, Gail Bagwell and husband David Fuchs of Hilliard, OH; one son, Douglas Bagwell and wife Sue of Nashville, TN; three grandchildren, Ramona Bagwell Moore and husband Tim of Boston, MA, Jamie Bagwell Gregory and husband Jon of Ft. Meyers. FL, Andrea Bagwell Holmes and husband Ryan of Richmond, VA; and a twin sister Betty King of Ft. Pierce, FL.
A Memorial Service will be Tuesday, February 8, 2011, 10AM at the Aycock Funeral Home Chapel in Port St. Lucie, FL
Inurnment will be in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, Fort Pierce, FL
Memorial contributions may be made to Treasure Coast Hospice, 5000 Dunn Road, Ft. Pierce, FL 34981.
Arrangements are entrusted to Aycock Funeral Home, Port St. Lucie, FL. Please visit and sign our guest register book at http://www.aycockportstlucie.com
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