Obituary: Bonnie McBeth

Source: Overman-Jones Funeral Home:

Bonnie R. McBeth, age 85 of Plainfield, IL at rest Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at her son’s home. Born July 4, 1928 in Lenawee County, MI the daughter of the late Eli and Ruth Leist. Beloved wife of the late Robert McBeth, loving mother of David (Donna) McBeth and Kendall (Deanna) McBeth, cherished grandmother of Amy Zordan, Nathan (Jessie) McBeth, Elizabeth Zordan, Larissa (fiancé Chris Barker) Zordan, Clare McBeth, Kirsten McBeth, fond great-grandmother of Edmund Moore, Jocelyn Carstens, Tinsley McBeth and Connor Carstens. Dear sister-in-law of James McBeth and Clyde Oyer and aunt of several nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her sisters, Juanita, Della and Maggie.

Bonnie attended Gomer High School in Gomer, OH, where she was named Salutatorian. She graduated from Ohio State University in Columbus, OH, the first in her family to graduate from college. Then went on to obtain her Master’s Degree from Northern Illinois University. Bonnie has taught in the Plainfield School District for 38 years, in 1951 she became the first kindergarten teacher in Plainfield, the first elementary school reading specialist. She co-founded the Reading Recovery Program in Plainfield and in 2001 the Plainfield School District named the Bonnie McBeth Learning Center in honor of her years of service.

Bonnie was a very active member of her church, serving as a Sunday School Teacher, Bible School Teacher, church moderator, was on the Apple Tree School Board, an avid gardener and reader, served in many leadership roles and member of the PTA, Will County Reading Association, Delta Kappa Gamma, Beta Rho Chapter, The Women’s Study Club and a volunteer at the Rialto.

Funeral Information

Visitation Friday, February 28, 2014 from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Overman-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 15219 S. Joliet Road, (Corner of Rt. 59 & East 30) Plainfield. Additional visitation from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 1,  at Plainfield Congregational United Church of Christ, 24040 W. Fraser Road, Plainfield, with a service at 1 p.m. Private family inurnment at the Plainfield Township Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Bonnie to the Plainfield Foundation for Excellence: the Bonnie McBeth Scholarship Fund, the Apple Tree Scholarship Fund, or the Plainfield Historical Society.