Virginia received her middle name Kathleen from her elder sister Madge. The doctor and nurse came by bobsled for the home delivery. Madge was tasked with giving Virginia her middle name. The nurse told Madge that the middle name should be Irish(have no idea why)
Virginia grew up on her father's Iowa farm who raised show horses(American Saddlebreds and Belgians)until he lost the farm during the depression. They then moved to a rented farm near Weldon. When her parents became elderly they moved into Humeston,Iowa. Her brothers and sisters were Marvin Etsel,Velma Madge,Lila Pearle,Harold Thomas,Russell Allen,Roberta Irene and Darrell Dean.
Virginia was captain of the LeRoy Women's Basketball team and Valedictorian. She attended Iowa State Teachers College which is now Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA. Her roommate in college was Emma Jane Bonnett who introduced her to her brother Paul Russell who became Virginia's husband. They married in Savannah Georgia 24 Jul 1943 while Paul was in the army.
While Paul was away in WWII, Virgina worked at the Munitions Ordinance Plant in DesMoines assisting in the war effort.
After Paul returned from WWII, they settled in Cedar Rapids. They had 3 children: Dennis Paul, Karyl Lynne and Dewayne Allen. Virginia worked at Rockwell-Collins until retirement. She was the first woman to become Foreman of an all male department within the company. Virginia campaigned for President Carter. She received a personal invitation to attend Carter's inaugeral ball. One of her largest regrets was that she did not attend because Paul did not want to go.
Shortly before retirement Virginia and Paul built a new home in North Liberty(a home she had dreamed of having since first married) . She enjoyed crocheting, her children, grandchildren and cheering on family members in motosports. Virginia died of a heart attack at home in North Liberty shortly after retirement.
======================
Obit Cedar Rapids Gazette Jul 30, 1987
Virginia K Bonnett, 64, died Tuesday at University Hospitals, Iowa City, Iowa after a sudden illness.
She was born on March 16, 1923, at Weldon and married Paul Bonnett on July 24, 1943 at Savannah, Ga. They lived in Cedar Rapids from soon after their marriage until 1977 when they moved to North Liberty. She was a foreman and drill press operator for Rockwell Collins for 30 years, retiring in 1985. She was a member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 362.
Surviving are her husband, a daughter, Karyl Bonnett of North Liberty, two sons, Dennis of Oklahoma City, and DeWayne of Stone City; three sisters, Roberta Richmond of Humeston, Madge Peters of Bakersfield, Ca and Lila Little of Fresno, Ca, a brother, Darrell Saffell of Pleasantville and eight grandchildren.
Services 10 a.m. Saturday at george L. Gay's Iowa City by the Rev. Francis Shrope. Burial Oakhill Cemetery, Coralville. Pallbearers: Bill Mosby, Robert Supple, Ronald Klinger, William Gosnell, Edward Crotty, Ernest Brochlan - All co-workers and friends from Rockwell-Collins.
Virginia grew up on her father's Iowa farm who raised show horses(American Saddlebreds and Belgians)until he lost the farm during the depression. They then moved to a rented farm near Weldon. When her parents became elderly they moved into Humeston,Iowa. Her brothers and sisters were Marvin Etsel,Velma Madge,Lila Pearle,Harold Thomas,Russell Allen,Roberta Irene and Darrell Dean.
Virginia was captain of the LeRoy Women's Basketball team and Valedictorian. She attended Iowa State Teachers College which is now Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA. Her roommate in college was Emma Jane Bonnett who introduced her to her brother Paul Russell who became Virginia's husband. They married in Savannah Georgia 24 Jul 1943 while Paul was in the army.
While Paul was away in WWII, Virgina worked at the Munitions Ordinance Plant in DesMoines assisting in the war effort.
After Paul returned from WWII, they settled in Cedar Rapids. They had 3 children: Dennis Paul, Karyl Lynne and Dewayne Allen. Virginia worked at Rockwell-Collins until retirement. She was the first woman to become Foreman of an all male department within the company. Virginia campaigned for President Carter. She received a personal invitation to attend Carter's inaugeral ball. One of her largest regrets was that she did not attend because Paul did not want to go.
Shortly before retirement Virginia and Paul built a new home in North Liberty(a home she had dreamed of having since first married) . She enjoyed crocheting, her children, grandchildren and cheering on family members in motosports. Virginia died of a heart attack at home in North Liberty shortly after retirement.
======================
Obit Cedar Rapids Gazette Jul 30, 1987
Virginia K Bonnett, 64, died Tuesday at University Hospitals, Iowa City, Iowa after a sudden illness.
She was born on March 16, 1923, at Weldon and married Paul Bonnett on July 24, 1943 at Savannah, Ga. They lived in Cedar Rapids from soon after their marriage until 1977 when they moved to North Liberty. She was a foreman and drill press operator for Rockwell Collins for 30 years, retiring in 1985. She was a member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 362.
Surviving are her husband, a daughter, Karyl Bonnett of North Liberty, two sons, Dennis of Oklahoma City, and DeWayne of Stone City; three sisters, Roberta Richmond of Humeston, Madge Peters of Bakersfield, Ca and Lila Little of Fresno, Ca, a brother, Darrell Saffell of Pleasantville and eight grandchildren.
Services 10 a.m. Saturday at george L. Gay's Iowa City by the Rev. Francis Shrope. Burial Oakhill Cemetery, Coralville. Pallbearers: Bill Mosby, Robert Supple, Ronald Klinger, William Gosnell, Edward Crotty, Ernest Brochlan - All co-workers and friends from Rockwell-Collins.
Virginia received her middle name Kathleen from her elder sister Madge. The doctor and nurse came by bobsled for the home delivery. Madge was tasked with giving Virginia her middle name. The nurse told Madge that the middle name should be Irish(have no idea why)
Virginia grew up on her father's Iowa farm who raised show horses(American Saddlebreds and Belgians)until he lost the farm during the depression. They then moved to a rented farm near Weldon. When her parents became elderly they moved into Humeston,Iowa. Her brothers and sisters were Marvin Etsel,Velma Madge,Lila Pearle,Harold Thomas,Russell Allen,Roberta Irene and Darrell Dean.
Virginia was captain of the LeRoy Women's Basketball team and Valedictorian. She attended Iowa State Teachers College which is now Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA. Her roommate in college was Emma Jane Bonnett who introduced her to her brother Paul Russell who became Virginia's husband. They married in Savannah Georgia 24 Jul 1943 while Paul was in the army.
While Paul was away in WWII, Virgina worked at the Munitions Ordinance Plant in DesMoines assisting in the war effort.
After Paul returned from WWII, they settled in Cedar Rapids. They had 3 children: Dennis Paul, Karyl Lynne and Dewayne Allen. Virginia worked at Rockwell-Collins until retirement. She was the first woman to become Foreman of an all male department within the company. Virginia campaigned for President Carter. She received a personal invitation to attend Carter's inaugeral ball. One of her largest regrets was that she did not attend because Paul did not want to go.
Shortly before retirement Virginia and Paul built a new home in North Liberty(a home she had dreamed of having since first married) . She enjoyed crocheting, her children, grandchildren and cheering on family members in motosports. Virginia died of a heart attack at home in North Liberty shortly after retirement.
======================
Obit Cedar Rapids Gazette Jul 30, 1987
Virginia K Bonnett, 64, died Tuesday at University Hospitals, Iowa City, Iowa after a sudden illness.
She was born on March 16, 1923, at Weldon and married Paul Bonnett on July 24, 1943 at Savannah, Ga. They lived in Cedar Rapids from soon after their marriage until 1977 when they moved to North Liberty. She was a foreman and drill press operator for Rockwell Collins for 30 years, retiring in 1985. She was a member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 362.
Surviving are her husband, a daughter, Karyl Bonnett of North Liberty, two sons, Dennis of Oklahoma City, and DeWayne of Stone City; three sisters, Roberta Richmond of Humeston, Madge Peters of Bakersfield, Ca and Lila Little of Fresno, Ca, a brother, Darrell Saffell of Pleasantville and eight grandchildren.
Services 10 a.m. Saturday at george L. Gay's Iowa City by the Rev. Francis Shrope. Burial Oakhill Cemetery, Coralville. Pallbearers: Bill Mosby, Robert Supple, Ronald Klinger, William Gosnell, Edward Crotty, Ernest Brochlan - All co-workers and friends from Rockwell-Collins.
Virginia grew up on her father's Iowa farm who raised show horses(American Saddlebreds and Belgians)until he lost the farm during the depression. They then moved to a rented farm near Weldon. When her parents became elderly they moved into Humeston,Iowa. Her brothers and sisters were Marvin Etsel,Velma Madge,Lila Pearle,Harold Thomas,Russell Allen,Roberta Irene and Darrell Dean.
Virginia was captain of the LeRoy Women's Basketball team and Valedictorian. She attended Iowa State Teachers College which is now Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA. Her roommate in college was Emma Jane Bonnett who introduced her to her brother Paul Russell who became Virginia's husband. They married in Savannah Georgia 24 Jul 1943 while Paul was in the army.
While Paul was away in WWII, Virgina worked at the Munitions Ordinance Plant in DesMoines assisting in the war effort.
After Paul returned from WWII, they settled in Cedar Rapids. They had 3 children: Dennis Paul, Karyl Lynne and Dewayne Allen. Virginia worked at Rockwell-Collins until retirement. She was the first woman to become Foreman of an all male department within the company. Virginia campaigned for President Carter. She received a personal invitation to attend Carter's inaugeral ball. One of her largest regrets was that she did not attend because Paul did not want to go.
Shortly before retirement Virginia and Paul built a new home in North Liberty(a home she had dreamed of having since first married) . She enjoyed crocheting, her children, grandchildren and cheering on family members in motosports. Virginia died of a heart attack at home in North Liberty shortly after retirement.
======================
Obit Cedar Rapids Gazette Jul 30, 1987
Virginia K Bonnett, 64, died Tuesday at University Hospitals, Iowa City, Iowa after a sudden illness.
She was born on March 16, 1923, at Weldon and married Paul Bonnett on July 24, 1943 at Savannah, Ga. They lived in Cedar Rapids from soon after their marriage until 1977 when they moved to North Liberty. She was a foreman and drill press operator for Rockwell Collins for 30 years, retiring in 1985. She was a member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 362.
Surviving are her husband, a daughter, Karyl Bonnett of North Liberty, two sons, Dennis of Oklahoma City, and DeWayne of Stone City; three sisters, Roberta Richmond of Humeston, Madge Peters of Bakersfield, Ca and Lila Little of Fresno, Ca, a brother, Darrell Saffell of Pleasantville and eight grandchildren.
Services 10 a.m. Saturday at george L. Gay's Iowa City by the Rev. Francis Shrope. Burial Oakhill Cemetery, Coralville. Pallbearers: Bill Mosby, Robert Supple, Ronald Klinger, William Gosnell, Edward Crotty, Ernest Brochlan - All co-workers and friends from Rockwell-Collins.
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