Bonnie Dee Whitehead, 87, of Brenham, died Thursday, June 4, 2015, at her residence in Brenham. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Sunday, June 7, 2015, at Memorial Oaks Chapel. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m., Monday, June 8, 2015, at the First Christian Church of Brenham, with Reverend Richard Stadelmann officiating. Burial will follow in Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham.
Bonnie Dee was born in Somerville, Texas, to the late Hope and Olga Kettrick Thomas. She graduated from Somerville High School and Blinn College before attending the University of Texas. A staunch Fightin' Texas Aggie fan, it must have pained her greatly that A&M did not allow female students in those days. During her time at Blinn College, she was forced to ride to an Aggie game with a Tea-sip named Tommy Whitehead, whom she later married on May 23, 1953. They survived and enjoyed 51 years of Turkey Day games together until his death in 2004.
Bonnie's early career was spent teaching in a one room schoolhouse in Wesley. Later she joined the staff at the family's radio station, KWHI. As the station's Music Director, she was known for using a pair of scissors to scratch out the "B" side of 45 records of which she did not approve. Along with her family, she helped own and operate the Brenham Banner Press, KWHI-AM, KWHI-FM (now KTEX 106.1), and TV Cable of Brenham (now Suddenlink Cable).
An avid outdoorsman, Bonnie enjoyed family vacations in a station wagon pulling a popup camper to Big Bend, Yellowstone, Estes Park, and countless other places. She loved to hike mountains, and could out fish and out hunt every member of the family. Once she caught two trout from a stream with her bare hands, highly impressing her sons.
Bonnie's true passion was golf, where she also could beat every family member. She loved playing golf with her girlfriends, and enjoying a cold beer or scotch after the round. Birthday lunches with girlfriends also brought her much joy.
Education was very important to Bonnie and her late husband. Together, they helped send not only family members, but many others to college educations. Through her support, her ten grandchildren also have that opportunity. She always encouraged them to study hard, or face the "Somerville Treatment" should they make a bad grade.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Simmons Whitehead Jr.; and a sister, Ruby Kathryn Thomas Swenson.
Survivors include her sons: Tom Dee Whitehead and wife, Melissa Montgomery Whitehead, of Brenham, Mark Kerley Whitehead and wife, Heidi Hofmann Whitehead, of Brenham, and Robert Clyde Whitehead and wife, Kym Ambelang Whitehead, of Austin; grandchildren: Frank, Ellen, Hunter, Kaitlin and Seoul Whitehead, James, Stephanie, Jesse and Jack Baker, and Jordyn Baker Foust; great grandchildren, Levi and L.J. Baker; sister, Lynn Junek and husband, Elo Sr.; other relatives and many friends. B19
Bonnie Dee was born in Somerville, Texas, to the late Hope and Olga Kettrick Thomas. She graduated from Somerville High School and Blinn College before attending the University of Texas. A staunch Fightin' Texas Aggie fan, it must have pained her greatly that A&M did not allow female students in those days. During her time at Blinn College, she was forced to ride to an Aggie game with a Tea-sip named Tommy Whitehead, whom she later married on May 23, 1953. They survived and enjoyed 51 years of Turkey Day games together until his death in 2004.
Bonnie's early career was spent teaching in a one room schoolhouse in Wesley. Later she joined the staff at the family's radio station, KWHI. As the station's Music Director, she was known for using a pair of scissors to scratch out the "B" side of 45 records of which she did not approve. Along with her family, she helped own and operate the Brenham Banner Press, KWHI-AM, KWHI-FM (now KTEX 106.1), and TV Cable of Brenham (now Suddenlink Cable).
An avid outdoorsman, Bonnie enjoyed family vacations in a station wagon pulling a popup camper to Big Bend, Yellowstone, Estes Park, and countless other places. She loved to hike mountains, and could out fish and out hunt every member of the family. Once she caught two trout from a stream with her bare hands, highly impressing her sons.
Bonnie's true passion was golf, where she also could beat every family member. She loved playing golf with her girlfriends, and enjoying a cold beer or scotch after the round. Birthday lunches with girlfriends also brought her much joy.
Education was very important to Bonnie and her late husband. Together, they helped send not only family members, but many others to college educations. Through her support, her ten grandchildren also have that opportunity. She always encouraged them to study hard, or face the "Somerville Treatment" should they make a bad grade.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Simmons Whitehead Jr.; and a sister, Ruby Kathryn Thomas Swenson.
Survivors include her sons: Tom Dee Whitehead and wife, Melissa Montgomery Whitehead, of Brenham, Mark Kerley Whitehead and wife, Heidi Hofmann Whitehead, of Brenham, and Robert Clyde Whitehead and wife, Kym Ambelang Whitehead, of Austin; grandchildren: Frank, Ellen, Hunter, Kaitlin and Seoul Whitehead, James, Stephanie, Jesse and Jack Baker, and Jordyn Baker Foust; great grandchildren, Levi and L.J. Baker; sister, Lynn Junek and husband, Elo Sr.; other relatives and many friends. B19
Bonnie Dee Whitehead, 87, of Brenham, died Thursday, June 4, 2015, at her residence in Brenham. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Sunday, June 7, 2015, at Memorial Oaks Chapel. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m., Monday, June 8, 2015, at the First Christian Church of Brenham, with Reverend Richard Stadelmann officiating. Burial will follow in Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham.
Bonnie Dee was born in Somerville, Texas, to the late Hope and Olga Kettrick Thomas. She graduated from Somerville High School and Blinn College before attending the University of Texas. A staunch Fightin' Texas Aggie fan, it must have pained her greatly that A&M did not allow female students in those days. During her time at Blinn College, she was forced to ride to an Aggie game with a Tea-sip named Tommy Whitehead, whom she later married on May 23, 1953. They survived and enjoyed 51 years of Turkey Day games together until his death in 2004.
Bonnie's early career was spent teaching in a one room schoolhouse in Wesley. Later she joined the staff at the family's radio station, KWHI. As the station's Music Director, she was known for using a pair of scissors to scratch out the "B" side of 45 records of which she did not approve. Along with her family, she helped own and operate the Brenham Banner Press, KWHI-AM, KWHI-FM (now KTEX 106.1), and TV Cable of Brenham (now Suddenlink Cable).
An avid outdoorsman, Bonnie enjoyed family vacations in a station wagon pulling a popup camper to Big Bend, Yellowstone, Estes Park, and countless other places. She loved to hike mountains, and could out fish and out hunt every member of the family. Once she caught two trout from a stream with her bare hands, highly impressing her sons.
Bonnie's true passion was golf, where she also could beat every family member. She loved playing golf with her girlfriends, and enjoying a cold beer or scotch after the round. Birthday lunches with girlfriends also brought her much joy.
Education was very important to Bonnie and her late husband. Together, they helped send not only family members, but many others to college educations. Through her support, her ten grandchildren also have that opportunity. She always encouraged them to study hard, or face the "Somerville Treatment" should they make a bad grade.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Simmons Whitehead Jr.; and a sister, Ruby Kathryn Thomas Swenson.
Survivors include her sons: Tom Dee Whitehead and wife, Melissa Montgomery Whitehead, of Brenham, Mark Kerley Whitehead and wife, Heidi Hofmann Whitehead, of Brenham, and Robert Clyde Whitehead and wife, Kym Ambelang Whitehead, of Austin; grandchildren: Frank, Ellen, Hunter, Kaitlin and Seoul Whitehead, James, Stephanie, Jesse and Jack Baker, and Jordyn Baker Foust; great grandchildren, Levi and L.J. Baker; sister, Lynn Junek and husband, Elo Sr.; other relatives and many friends. B19
Bonnie Dee was born in Somerville, Texas, to the late Hope and Olga Kettrick Thomas. She graduated from Somerville High School and Blinn College before attending the University of Texas. A staunch Fightin' Texas Aggie fan, it must have pained her greatly that A&M did not allow female students in those days. During her time at Blinn College, she was forced to ride to an Aggie game with a Tea-sip named Tommy Whitehead, whom she later married on May 23, 1953. They survived and enjoyed 51 years of Turkey Day games together until his death in 2004.
Bonnie's early career was spent teaching in a one room schoolhouse in Wesley. Later she joined the staff at the family's radio station, KWHI. As the station's Music Director, she was known for using a pair of scissors to scratch out the "B" side of 45 records of which she did not approve. Along with her family, she helped own and operate the Brenham Banner Press, KWHI-AM, KWHI-FM (now KTEX 106.1), and TV Cable of Brenham (now Suddenlink Cable).
An avid outdoorsman, Bonnie enjoyed family vacations in a station wagon pulling a popup camper to Big Bend, Yellowstone, Estes Park, and countless other places. She loved to hike mountains, and could out fish and out hunt every member of the family. Once she caught two trout from a stream with her bare hands, highly impressing her sons.
Bonnie's true passion was golf, where she also could beat every family member. She loved playing golf with her girlfriends, and enjoying a cold beer or scotch after the round. Birthday lunches with girlfriends also brought her much joy.
Education was very important to Bonnie and her late husband. Together, they helped send not only family members, but many others to college educations. Through her support, her ten grandchildren also have that opportunity. She always encouraged them to study hard, or face the "Somerville Treatment" should they make a bad grade.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Simmons Whitehead Jr.; and a sister, Ruby Kathryn Thomas Swenson.
Survivors include her sons: Tom Dee Whitehead and wife, Melissa Montgomery Whitehead, of Brenham, Mark Kerley Whitehead and wife, Heidi Hofmann Whitehead, of Brenham, and Robert Clyde Whitehead and wife, Kym Ambelang Whitehead, of Austin; grandchildren: Frank, Ellen, Hunter, Kaitlin and Seoul Whitehead, James, Stephanie, Jesse and Jack Baker, and Jordyn Baker Foust; great grandchildren, Levi and L.J. Baker; sister, Lynn Junek and husband, Elo Sr.; other relatives and many friends. B19
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