Bonnie Ruth Willhite, 88, of Plato, died Thursday, March 12, 2020, in her home.
She was born Oct. 10, 1931, near Lynchburg, Mo. to Frank and Norma Quinn Spencer.
On Dec. 28, 1951, she married Robert Dale Willhite.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Dale on Feb. 11, 2018; a son, Larry Willhite; a granddaughter, Kimberly Smith; two brothers, Glen and Dorsey Spencer.
Bonnie graduated from Plato High School in the Class of 1951, and worked for awhile at Fort Leonard Wood, and then she decided to stay at home and lovingly raised her seven children. In the all of 1978, she started cooking for Plato Schools and continued at that for 25 years.
She was saved as a young girl and was a member of Plato Christian Church. She loved Jesus and made sure her children attended church and knew the Lord.
Survivors include two sons, Bob Willhite and his wife Debra of Rolla; Don Willhite and his wife Debbie of Roby; four daughters, Debi Alleger and her husband Jack of Strafford; Penny Morrison and her husband Kevin of Lynchburg; Nancy Grisham of Arlington, Texas; Elaine VanNoy and her husband John of Springfield; 13 grandchildren, Josh, Becky, Dan, Max, Carrie, Jeff, Jim, Sarah, Heather, MacKenzie, Jack, Reagan, and Madison; 25 great-grandchildren, Cia, Audra, Silas, Pandora, Beatrix, Felix, Penelope, Ben, Brina, Blake, Allison, Dylan, Logan, Isabella, Leah, Kingston, Landon, Hayden, Cash, Myles, Kipp, Scout, Dax, Lincoln, and Londyn; two great-great-grandchildren, Emma and Emberlyn; a brother, Leonard Spencer of Cabool; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Bonnie Ruth Willhite were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 15, 2020, in the Plato Christian Church with Steve Spencer and Gene Earp officiating. Burial was in Dutch Chapel Cemetery, under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Lebanon. Visitation will be immediately following the service in the church. Memorial contributions to Dutch Chapel Cemetery or Kindness Konnection at Plato Elementary School may be made through the funeral home. For more information or to view or sign the online memorial visit www.holmanhowe.com.
